On September 26, 2017, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (Taiwan CDC) announced 1 new imported malaria case confirmed in Taiwan.　The case is an over-30-year-old male who resides in southern Taiwan. During late August and mid-September, he traveled to Burkina Faso alone. Prior to his trip, he visited the outpatient travel clinic to inquire about yellow fever vaccination, but he did not take the malaria prophylaxis. After returning to Taiwan in late September, when he subsequently developed symptoms, including high fever, chills, dizziness and vomiting, he sought medical attention at a clinic and a hospital respectively. He was hospitalized after the plasmodium parasite was found in his blood. At one point during hospitalization, he developed a severe symptom (shock). Fortunately, his conditions improved after the administration of treatment. As of now, the case is still hospitalized and none of his contacts residing in the same household has developed any symptoms.

According to the surveillance data compiled by Taiwan CDC, as of September 24, a total of 6 malaria cases have been confirmed in Taiwan thus far this year, which is the lowest during the same period in recent 5 years. All 6 cases are imported cases.　Among the cases, 2 acquired infection in Nigeria, 1 acquired infection in Burkina Faso, 1 acquired infection in Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and 1 acquired infection in Equatorial Guinea. 4 cases were found to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum, 1 was found to be infected with Plasmodium vivax, and 1 was found to be infected with mixed species. Although malaria is not endemic in Taiwan, Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary vector for malaria, are still found in Taiwan. Hence, the possibility of a local outbreak remains.  The public is urged to remain vigilant.

Malaria is caused by bites from anopheles mosquitoes, which are infected with the malaria protozoan. Protozoa of Plasmodium Vivax and Plasmodium ovale can remain dormant in liver for months or even years. Most infected individuals develop symptoms 7 to 30 days after infection. Early symptoms are similar to those of the common cold. The main symptom is high fever. Other symptoms include headache, muscle soreness, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. If the patient has not been treated appropriately, symptoms of intermittent or periodic cold shivering (chills and shivering), high fever and sweating may appear. In more severe cases, malaria infection may lead to splenomegaly, jaundice, shock, liver and kidney failure, pulmonary edema, acute brain diseases and coma.　

Taiwan CDC urges travelers visiting endemic areas to take precautions against mosquito bites such as wearing light-colored clothing, long sleeves and long pants and applying officially approved mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body to lower the risk of infection. Moreover, travelers planning to visit areas affected by malaria are advised to visit the outpatient travel clinic at 12 contracted hospitals in the nation one month prior to their departure to assess the risk of infection, take the malaria prophylaxis according to the doctor’s orders, and throughout the trip, pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, avoid touching mouth and nose, and wearing a mask when visiting crowded places.  Taiwan CDC emphasizes if symptoms such as intermittent fever, and chills develop after returning to Taiwan, please seek immediate medical attention and inform the doctor of any recent travel history and activity to facilitate prompt diagnosis and case reporting. For more information, please visit the Taiwan CDC’s website at http://www.cdc.gov.tw or call the toll-free Communicable Disease Reporting and Consultation Hotline, 1922 (or 0800-001922).