Europe: malaria cases in Albania - Update: imported

[Gert van der Hoek]

computertranslation

Oct 07, 2012

Seven cases of malaria in Albania

Seven cases of malaria were registered in Albania, for the first time since 1970, the correspondent reported.

According to Dimitar end, head grade Infektivnoto State Hospital in Tirana, these cases have been registered in recent times.

Ends of this information is presented at a conference held in Tirana on "Infectious diseases in Albania."

According to him, all the data indicate that the occurrence of malaria imported from Greece and Italy.

The conference stated that Albania needs to take measures to strengthen border controls on persons suffering from malaria, and in the two neighboring countries.

At the same conference is a record that in Albania registered four cases of zapadnonilska fever (West Nile fever, GvdH) but all are in good health.


Makfax


Location of Albania (in green)

[Giuseppe]

Re: Europe: Seven cases of malaria in Albania - "ex-Greece and Italy"

It is extremely unlikely that in Italy there could be autoctonous cases of malaria, since this disease was eradicated long time ago and the environmental conditions for an ongoing transmission are no longer present.

For this reason, the above newswire is probably talking about other conditions or illness unrelated to malaria, at least for Italy.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Europe: Seven cases of malaria in Albania - "ex-Greece and Italy"

Yes, quite surprising Italy mentioned as a possible source of malaria.

Latest FT report on malaria related to Italy:

"reported case of malaria in Italy in June 2008, suspected to be indigenously acquired"

http://www.flutrackers.com/forum/sho...d.php?t=170121

More mentioning of malaria in Italy:

In summer 1997, one autochthonous P.vivax case occurred in Italy. It was diagnosed in Maremma (Tuscany) in a rural zone, which was known for the presence of Anopheles labranchiae. An investigation among people living close to the patient’s house was performed and a malaria case imported from India 3 months before and still carrying gametocytes was detected.

Epidemiology of Imported Malaria in the Mediterranean Region

A more recent study says:

"However, the introduction of rice cultivation over 30 yr ago has led to an increase in the An. labranchiae population and concern over possible malaria reemergence".

"Our findings suggest the need for the continuous monitoring of An. labranchiae in the study area".

J Med Entomol. 2012 Jul;49(4):833-42.

Impact of environmental changes and human-related factors on the potential malaria vector, Anopheles labranchiae (Diptera: Culicidae), in Maremma, Central Italy.

Recent risk assesment:

Analysis and comparison of historic and present data show that Maremma still presents environmental and entomological characteristics that may allow malaria transmission.

Despite the low malariogenic potential resulted for the whole area, the occurrence of sporadic, isolate events of indigenous Plasmodium vivax transmission, may be considered improbable but not impossible.

According to recent studies, the most significant environmental factor determining the favourable conditions for malaria transmission can be found in the rising mean temperature (from 14.8degreesC in 1961-1990 to 15.6degreesC in 2005-2009) that could increase the length of the transmission season, the abundance of the local vector's populations and favour the expansion of An. labranchiae into higher latitudes.

These facts and the increasing rate of immigration from malaria endemic countries, suggest the on going of epidemiological and entomological surveillance in the study area such as in other at risk areas of the country.

Malar J. 2012 Mar 30;11(1):98

Assessment of the risk of malaria re-introduction in the Maremma Plain (Central Italy) using a multi-factorial approach.

Italy has a large Albanian community.

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[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: Europe: Seven cases of malaria in Albania

MALARIA - ALBANIA (02)
**********************
A ProMED-mail post

http://www.promedmail.org

Date: Tue 9 Oct 2012

From: Silvia Bino [edited]

Clarification about malaria cases in Albania

--------------------------------------------

The imported malaria case in Albania were 43 [not clear which period]. 5 Albanian citizens are among them.

The imported cases have been from Asia, China, India (57.15 per cent); in Africa (35.71 per cent); only 2.38 per cent from South America and 4.76 per cent cases (Albanian citizens) were infected traveling in Africa, Middle East and Asia.

Most of the cases were found during the period between 1964-1971 and have been mostly _Plasmodium vivax_.

Since 2010, 7 malaria imported cases were registered in Albania.

In 2010 a male, 17 years old, was diagnosed with _P. vivax_ and imported from Greece (illegal migrant with a 7 months travel history in Greece).

The other 6 cases were diagnosed in 2012 starting from February and were imported from Equatorial Guinea, all young males 19-36 years old, neglecting prophylaxis and working for an Albanian company working in different areas of Equatorial Guinea. They are all citizens of Vlora, a coastal city in Albania. 3 cases were diagnosed as _P. ovale_ and 3 other as _P. falciparum_. All cases were diagnosed at IPH laboratories in Tirana and treated at Tirana University Hospital Infectious Diseases Clinic. The diagnosis was confirmed for most of the cases at ISS, Rome, Italy.

Also 2 other probable cases came to our knowledge but not as current patients. One referred to have been treated in Italy (we cannot confirm this case as we did not find any record until now) and the other one reported about malaria treatment in Equatorial Guinea but was lacking written diagnosis.

--

Silvia Bino MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases
Head, Control of Infectious Diseases Department
Institute of Public Health
Alexander Moisiu Str. 80
Tirana/Albania

ProMED thanks Silvia Bino for the comments. The malaria case diagnosed in 2010 with _P. vivax_ malaria was reported by ProMED-mail (Malaria - Albania: RFI: 20100518.1634) in May 2010. Other cases diagnosed in Albania were infected in Equatorial Guinea and thus imported cases. The other 2 cases were not confirmed. If the decision by the Albanian authorities to strengthen control with travelers from Greece and Italy it appears that the decision is based on one case from May 2010. - Mod.EP

See also: MALARIA - ALBANIA: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION

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