Imported Malaria in Egypt

Background: With the dramatic increase in international travel among Egyptian people, the risk of malaria importation from malaria-endemic regions threatens the achievement of the malaria elimination goal of Egypt

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Patients and methods: Blood samples from 700 patients were collected from different medical laboratories in Egypt from travelers to African endemic areas either Egyptians or foreigners coming to Egypt within previous 8 weeks; during period from January to December 2016. All samples were done by direct microscopic examination of the Giemsa-stained thick and thin blood smears ["gold standard"], as well as the rapid diagnostic test [RDT] [Accurate MAL-w23, Polymed] for feverish cases as a confirmatory test

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Results: A total of 25;3.57% [out of 700] imported malaria cases were recorded.P. falciparum [15 cases,60%] and P. vivax [14 cases, 56%] were the two predominant species as well as one case [4%] P ovale. From them 4 cases had mixed P.falciparum and P.vivax and one case had P. falciparum and ovale, The cases were coming from 11 African countries and their distribution was, Sudan,11; Nigeria, 5; Ghana,3; Cameroon,1; Angola,1; Congo,1; Chad,1; Guinea,1; Togo,1; South Africa,1; and Eritrea,1case.RDT was performed for feverish [300] patients and positive results were obtained among 27 cases. Twenty five of them had parasitemia while the other two had history of past infection

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Conclusions: Imported malaria infections pose an increasing challenge to the malaria elimination in Egypt. The risk of potential re-introduction of malaria into inland malaria free areas of Egypt should be urgently addressed, also the rapid diagnostic tests [RDTs], offer a useful tool for rapid diagnosis in suspected cases