Clinical update
1 February 2007
Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Jamaica - Update 2
As of 28 January 2007, 273 confirmed cases of malaria have been reported in Jamaica. The majority of cases have been from Kingston although there have been 11 cases in the adjacent parish of St Catherine, three cases in St Thomas and one in Clarendon [1]. The Jamaican Ministry of Health is continuing its multisectoral control programme, including surveillance, case management, vector control and public health education [2]. The outbreak is thought to be under control in many areas of Kingston, although the area of Greenwich has seen a high number of cases in the last few weeks [2]. Malaria is not considered endemic in Jamaica, although isolated, localised outbreaks have previously occurred [2].
Advice for Travellers
Around 160,000 United Kingdom (UK) residents travel to Jamaica every year [3,4]. To date, malaria has not been documented in any UK travellers returning from Jamaica. The HPA Advisory Committee for Malaria Prevention in UK Travellers (ACMP) does not recommend malaria prevention tablets for UK travellers to Jamaica. Travellers to Jamaica, in particular to the Kingston area, should be aware of possible risk and protect themselves against evening and night-time biting mosquitoes (see NaTHNaC insect bite avoidance information sheet).
Any traveller who develops a febrile illness during travel, or for up to a year following their return to the UK, should be promptly evaluated and have a blood test for malaria without delay. In the unlikely event that any travellers do contract malaria after visiting Jamaica, the appropriate treatment is chloroquine.
References
1. Public Health Agency of Canada. Malaria in Kingston, Jamaica, 29 January 2007. [Cited 31 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/2007/mal_jam070129_e.html
2. Government of Jamaica - Jamaica Information Service. Health Ministry Confident Malaria Outbreak Under Control, 24 January 2007. [Cited 31 January 2007]. Available at: http://www.jis.gov.jm/health/html/20070123T090000-0500_11079_JIS_HEALTH_MINISTRY_CONFIDENT_MALARIA_
3. World Tourism Organization (WTO). Yearbook of tourism statistics, 2005 [CD ROM]. Madrid: WTO, 2006.
4. Health Protection Agency. Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Jamaica - update. Hlth Protect Rep Wkly 2007; Jan 5. [accessed 1 February 2007] Available at: http://www.hpa.org.uk/hpr/archives/2007/news2007/news0107.h
Links to further information
Health Protection Agency, Malaria website
http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/malaria/default.htm
NaTHNaC malaria information
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