Abstract
Based on the official reports received from local health laboratories, an epidemiological analysis of malaria cases reported in Italy from 1989 to 1992 is presented. A total of 1,941 cases were reported, 1,287 among Italians and 654 among foreigners. The incidence of cases was on average 500 per year with a maximum in 1990. A slight, but constant decrease of incidence of malaria cases was recorded in this period among Italian citizens (−21.5%), while the incidence among foreigners increased (+80%).Plasmodium falciparum accounted for 74.2% of total infections, followed byP. vivax (19%). The highest number of cases was imported from Africa (86.5%), followed by Asia, South America, and Oceania. 11 cases were contracted in Europe (transfusion, airport and cryptic malaria). 26 people died from malaria during the four years, with a fatality rate of 2.3% among Italians. Other epidemiological features concerning incidence in the different categories of travellers, countries of infection, clinical and therapeutic aspects of cases, are also discussed.
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Sabatinelli, G., Majori, G., D'Ancona, F. et al. Malaria epidemiological trends in Italy. Eur J Epidemiol 10, 399–403 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01719663
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01719663