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Malaria among members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 2023. MSMR 2024; 31:31-36. [PMID: 38857496 PMCID: PMC11189824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
MSMR publishes annual updates on the incidence of malaria among U.S. service members. Malaria infection remains a potential health threat to U.S. service members located in or near endemic areas due to duty assignment, participation in contingency operations, or personal travel. In 2023, a total of 39 active and reserve component service members were diagnosed with or reported to have malaria, an 8.3% increase from the 36 cases identified in 2022. Over half of the malaria cases in 2023 were caused by Plasmodium falciparum (53.8%; n=21) followed by unspecified types of malaria (35.9%; n=14) and P vivax and other Plasmodia (5.1%; n=2 each ). Malaria cases were diagnosed or reported from 22 different medical facilities: 18 in the U.S., 2 in Germany, 1 in Africa, 1 in South Korea. Of the 33 cases with known locations of diagnoses, 6 (18.2%) were reported from or diagnosed outside the U.S.
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Zowonoo F, Iverson G, Doyle M, Richards SL. Retrospective spatiotemporal analysis of malaria cases reported between 2000 and 2020 in North Carolina, USA. Travel Med Infect Dis 2023; 51:102505. [PMID: 36427707 DOI: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2022.102505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are 1,000-2,000 cases of malaria diagnosed in the United States annually and most are imported. METHODS Malaria cases reported between 2000 and 2020 in North Carolina (NC) were analyzed (NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health). Differences in numbers of NC malaria cases were further analyzed by year, month, county, gender, age, and country of origin. RESULTS Most cases originated from travelers visiting Africa and returning to NC (i.e., Mecklenburg [N = 162 cases], Wake [N = 153], Guilford [N = 103], Durham [N = 74], and Cumberland [N = 41] Counties). Per capita analysis (i.e., per 100,000 population) was used to correct for differences in NC county population sizes and Durham (N = 22.8), Guilford (N = 19.0), Onslow (N = 14.7), Mecklenburg (N = 14.5), Wake (N = 13.5), Orange (N = 12.8) and Cumberland (N = 12.2) Counties showed the highest cases. Malaria was more prevalent among males (N = 532) relative to females (N = 245), and this difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Travelers visiting malaria-endemic regions should be educated on malaria prevention measures (e.g., chemoprophylaxis, mosquito repellent). These measures should be readily available to travelers. The malaria registry in NC should be improved by requiring additional data related to imported malaria cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Zowonoo
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Guy Iverson
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA
| | - Michael Doyle
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Communicable Disease Branch, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Stephanie L Richards
- Environmental Health Sciences Program, Department of Health Education and Promotion, College of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA.
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Robben PM, Dunbar CR, Akin EH, Pichugin A, Regules JA. Late-presenting Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in a Non-Endemic Setting During COVID-19 Travel Restrictions. Mil Med 2021; 188:e1335-e1337. [PMID: 34557926 PMCID: PMC8500131 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We report a case of febrile Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a 36-year-old male patient occurring 14 years after immigration from and more than 12 months since a return visit to the endemic area. The critical need for awareness regarding late presentations of P. falciparum is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Robben
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Christopher R Dunbar
- Infectious Disease Service, Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA 30905, USA
| | - Elgin H Akin
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Alexander Pichugin
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Jason A Regules
- Malaria Biologics Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
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Hickey PW, Mitra I, Fraser J, Brett-Major D, Riddle MS, Tribble DR. Deployment and Travel Medicine Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Outcomes Study (KAPOS): Malaria Chemoprophylaxis Prescription Patterns in the Military Health System. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2020; 103:334-343. [PMID: 32342855 PMCID: PMC7356474 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.19-0938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deployment and Travel Medicine Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, and Outcomes Study (KAPOS) examines the integrated relationship between provider and patient inputs and health outcomes associated with travel and deployments. This study describes malaria chemoprophylaxis prescribing patterns by medical providers within the U.S. Department of Defense’s Military Health System and its network of civilian healthcare providers during a 5-year period. Chemoprophylaxis varied by practice setting, beneficiary status, and providers’ travel medicine expertise. Whereas both civilian and military facilities prescribe an increasing proportion of atovaquone–proguanil, doxycycline remains the most prevalent antimalarial at military facility based practices. Civilian providers dispense higher rates of mefloquine than their military counterparts. Within military treatment facilities, travel medicine specialists vary their prescribing pattern based on service member versus beneficiary status of the patient, both in regards to primary prophylaxis, and use of presumptive anti-relapse therapy (PQ-PART). By contrast, nonspecialists appear to carry over practice patterns developed under force health protection (FHP) policy for service members, into the care of beneficiaries, particularly in high rates of prescribing doxycycline and PQ-PART compared with both military travel medicine specialists and civilian comparators. Force health protection policy plays an important role in standardizing and improving the quality of care for deployed service members, but this may not be the perfect solution outside of the deployment context. Solutions that broaden both utilization of decision support tools and travel medicine specialty care are necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick W Hickey
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.,Department of Pediatrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Indrani Mitra
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.,Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jamie Fraser
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland.,Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David Brett-Major
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Mark S Riddle
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David R Tribble
- Infectious Disease Clinical Research Program, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.,Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
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Shanks GD. Malaria-Associated Mortality in the Australian Defence Force during the Twentieth Century. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2017; 97:544-547. [PMID: 28722576 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.16-0748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria has been a military problem throughout history capable of causing epidemics that stop military operations. Individual mortality was examined from records of the three major wars of the 20th century that involved Australia in which 133 (1914-1919), 92 (1943-1945), and two (1965-1967) soldiers are known to have died with malaria. Those dying were predominately enlisted soldiers with a mean age of 29 years often complicated by other infections such as influenza, pneumonia or scrub typhus. Lethal epidemics of falciparum malaria occurred in Palestine/Syria in October 1918 and New Guinea in September 1943 to March 1944. Although no Australian soldier has died in nearly 50 years from malaria, there were three serious falciparum infections in soldiers in East Timor 1999-2000 who might have died if intensive care had not been provided. Recent military deployments into Africa including United Nations contingents still show falciparum malaria's lethality despite the availability of effective malaria chemoprophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Dennis Shanks
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.,School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,Australian Army Malaria Institute, Enoggera, Australia
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Askling HH, Bruneel F, Burchard G, Castelli F, Chiodini PL, Grobusch MP, Lopez-Vélez R, Paul M, Petersen E, Popescu C, Ramharter M, Schlagenhauf P. Management of imported malaria in Europe. Malar J 2012; 11:328. [PMID: 22985344 PMCID: PMC3489857 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-11-328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2012] [Accepted: 08/19/2012] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
In this position paper, the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Study Group on Clinical Parasitology, summarizes main issues regarding the management of imported malaria cases. Malaria is a rare diagnosis in Europe, but it is a medical emergency. A travel history is the key to suspecting malaria and is mandatory in patients with fever. There are no specific clinical signs or symptoms of malaria although fever is seen in almost all non-immune patients. Migrants from malaria endemic areas may have few symptoms.Malaria diagnostics should be performed immediately on suspicion of malaria and the gold- standard is microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood films. A Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) may be used as an initial screening tool, but does not replace urgent microscopy which should be done in parallel. Delays in microscopy, however, should not lead to delayed initiation of appropriate treatment. Patients diagnosed with malaria should usually be hospitalized. If outpatient management is preferred, as is the practice in some European centres, patients must usually be followed closely (at least daily) until clinical and parasitological cure. Treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria is either with oral artemisinin combination therapy (ACT) or with the combination atovaquone/proguanil. Two forms of ACT are available in Europe: artemether/lumefantrine and dihydroartemisinin/piperaquine. ACT is also effective against Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium knowlesi, but these species can be treated with chloroquine. Treatment of persistent liver forms in P. vivax and P. ovale with primaquine is indicated after excluding glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. There are modified schedules and drug options for the treatment of malaria in special patient groups, such as children and pregnant women. The potential for drug interactions and the role of food in the absorption of anti-malarials are important considerations in the choice of treatment.Complicated malaria is treated with intravenous artesunate resulting in a much more rapid decrease in parasite density compared to quinine. Patients treated with intravenous artesunate should be closely monitored for haemolysis for four weeks after treatment. There is a concern in some countries about the lack of artesunate produced according to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena H Askling
- Department of Medicine Solna/Unit for Infectious Diseases, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Communicable Disease Control and Prevention, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Fabrice Bruneel
- Intensive Care Unit, Centre Hospitalier de Versailles, Site André Mignot, 177 rue de Versailles, Le Chesnay 78150, France
| | - Gerd Burchard
- Bernhard-Nocht-Institut für Tropenmedizin, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Francesco Castelli
- University Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia and Spedali Civili General Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Peter L Chiodini
- Hospital for Tropical Diseases and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Martin P Grobusch
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rogelio Lopez-Vélez
- Tropical Medicine & Clinical Parasitology. Infectious Diseases Department.Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain
| | - Margaret Paul
- Department and Clinic of Tropical and Parasitic Diseases, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Eskild Petersen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Corneliu Popescu
- Clinical Hospital of Infectious and Tropical Diseases "Dr.Victor Babes", University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Carol Davila" Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Michael Ramharter
- Department. of Medicine I, Div. of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patricia Schlagenhauf
- University of Zürich, Centre for Travel Medicine, Division of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Zürich, Switzerland
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