Is screening for malaria necessary among asymptomatic refugees and immigrants coming from endemic countries?

Abstract

Evaluation of: Matisz CE, Naidu P, Shokoples SE et al. Post-arrival screening for malaria in asymptomatic refugees using real-time PCR. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 84, 161–165 (2010).

Malaria is endemic throughout most of the tropics mainly due to Plasmodium falciparum. Outside the tropics, cases have been described among mobile population groups, such as travellers, immigrants and refugees. Malaria prevalence among refugees ranges from 3% to more than 60%, many of them being asymptomatic. This article assesses the findings of a recent study performed in Canada where malaria prevalence among recently arrived asymptomatic refugees was measured. A total of 324 refugees were screened for malaria, obtaining a global prevalence of 3.1% by PCR. Identifying imported, asymptomatic cases of malaria may have an important impact both for the individual concerned and for public health.

Keywords::

• immigrants
• infectious diseases
• malaria
• public health
• refugees

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.