Epidemiology of imported malaria in a hospital in Milan, Italy

The main epidemiological features of 47 cases of malaria imported into Italy and diagnosed in Milan during the period 1980-84 are reported. Plasmodium falciparum was the most frequently found species and caused two deaths. In P. falciparum infections, the importance for epidemiological and therapeutic purposes of the evaluation of chloroquine sensitivity, not only with in vivo tests but also with in vitro techniques, is stressed.