26 October 2007

Malaria in Jamaica - update

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received a report of a case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a resident of Kingston, Jamaica [1]. This is the second case to be reported in this area in the last 10 days.

An outbreak, which was first reported in Kingston in December 2006 and involved 370 cases, was thought to have been subsiding [2]. The two most recently reported cases are the first to occur since 10 June 2007. The Ministry of Health in Jamaica has heightened malaria surveillance and introduced control measures in response to these new cases.

Advice for travellers

In 2006, nearly 187,000 United Kingdom (UK) residents visited Jamaica [3]. To date, malaria has not been documented in any UK travellers returning from Jamaica. The Health Protection Agency Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention (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 Health 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.

Additional information on the health recommendations for travel to Jamaica can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page.

References

1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Update: New malaria cases in Kingston, Jamaica. Updated 24 October 2007. [Accessed 26 October 2007] Available at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentMalariaJamaicaNewCase.asp

2. NaTHNaC News. Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Jamaica – update. 26 September 2007. [Accessed 26 October 2007]. Available at http://www.nathnac.org/travel/news/Malaria_Jamaica260907

.htm

3. Office for National Statistics. International Passenger Survey: Travelpac 2006 [online]. Accessed 26 October 2007. Available at http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=14013.

Links

NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet – malaria

http://www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/malaria.htm

NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet – insect bite avoidance

http://www.nathnac.org/travel/misc/travellers_mos.htm

NaTHNaC Country Information Page

http://www.nathnac.org/ds/map_world.aspx