Falciparum Malaria in European Tourists to the Dominican Republic
Author Information
Author(s): Tomas Jelinek, Manuel Corachan, Martin Grobusch, Gundel Harms-Zwingenberger, Herwig Kollaritsch, Joachim Richter, Bernd Zieger
Primary Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany
Hypothesis
The clustering of falciparum malaria cases among European tourists in the Dominican Republic suggests a change in the epidemiologic situation.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of malaria prophylaxis and monitoring imported infectious diseases among travelers.
Supporting Evidence
- Thirteen cases of falciparum malaria were reported among European tourists in the Dominican Republic.
- All patients had traveled to Punta Cana and did not take malaria prophylaxis.
- The clinical course for all patients was uneventful, and treatment was successful.
Takeaway
Some European tourists got sick with malaria after visiting the Dominican Republic, showing that it's important to take medicine to prevent it when traveling.
Methodology
The study involved monitoring cases of falciparum malaria reported by a sentinel surveillance network in Europe.
Limitations
The study may not capture all cases of malaria among tourists due to varying reporting practices.
Participant Demographics
The patients were primarily German tourists, with some from Spain and Austria.
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