News
18 April 2008
Plasmodium falciparum malaria from Great Exuma, Bahamas
Two cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria have been reported in travellers who visited the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas [1,2].
The first is 58 year old German woman spent two weeks in the Bahamas during March 2008. She became unwell on her return and was diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria by blood film. She had not visited any other countries considered to be malarious [1].
The second is a Canadian Forces member stationed in Afghanistan who spent eight days in the Bahamas in January 2008. He became unwell on his return to Afghanistan and was diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria. He has since made a full recovery [2].
Although the Bahamas is not considered to be a malaria endemic country, 18 cases of P. falciparum malaria were reported during late spring and summer of 2006 on Great Exuma [3]. In August 2007, the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on two cases of confirmed P. falciparum malaria in the island of Great Exuma, Bahamas [4]. One of the cases was in a US citizen who travelled to the island in July 2007.
Advice for travellers
All travellers to Great Exuma, Bahamas should be aware of the risk of malaria, and protect themselves against evening and night-time biting mosquitoes (see NaTHNaC insect bite avoidance information sheet).
Travellers should discuss their travel plans with their practice nurse or specialist travel clinic. Health advice for specific destinations can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Pages.
Any traveller who develops a febrile illness during their trip to Great Exuma or in the several months following return should be promptly evaluated and have a blood test for malaria without delay.
References
1. ProMed-mail. Malaria - Germany ex Bahamas: (Great Exuma). ProMed-mail 2008. 16 April: 20080416.1369. On-line resource. [Accessed 18 April 2008]. Available at http://apex.oracle.com/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:8139661847719
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2. ProMed-mail. Malaria – Afghanistan ex Bahamas (Great Exuma). ProMed-mail 2008. 17 April: 20080417.1380. On-line resource. [Accessed 18 April 2008]. Available at http://www.promedmail.org/pls/otn/f?p=2400:1001:275221925
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3. NaTHNaC. Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the Great Exuma, Bahamas – update. News. 14 August 2006. Accessed 18 April 2008. Available at: http://www.nathnac.org/travel/news/malaria_140806.htm
4. NaTHNaC. Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Great Exuma, Bahamas. News. 24 August 2007. [Accessed 18 April 2008]. Available at http://www.nathnac.org/travel/news/malaria_240807.htm
Links
NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Malaria
NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Insect Bite Avoidance
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