The Spring Festival is approaching.
Recently, there has been a marked increase in the number of returnees.
At the same time, it is also Periods of high incidence of imported malaria.
Recently, the disease control departments in many places have reported.
Cases of malaria were identified.
and issue relevant reminders.
Huizhou, Guangdong. According to Huizhou Disease Control and Prevention on January 24.
On January 19, the Huizhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention identified it.
One case of imported malaria was reported.
Microscopic examination confirmed that the case was.
Falciparum malaria. The patient has been given a timely **.
Yantai, Shandong. Previously, January 18.
Shandong Yantai CDC has also been identified.
One case of rare malaria was reported.
Microscopic examination and quantitative PCR detection.
The case was determined to be.
Co-infection with falciparum malaria and malaria ovale.
Xuzhou, Jiangsu. January 19, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province CDC.
An urgent reminder is also issued:
Returnees are advised to be vigilant.
Beware of imported malaria.
What is Malaria?
Malaria is an acute febrile disease transmitted by the Plasmodium parasite in the human body through the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito.
There are four main types of malaria parasites that infect humans: vivax malaria, falciparum malaria, malaria ovale and malaria malaria, in addition, Plasmodium knowlesi can also infect humans. China has been certified as a malaria-free country by the World Health Organization in 2021. Due to the cross-border movement of people, there are still a certain number of imported cases of malaria every year, and severe cases and deaths occur from time to time.
Symptoms are similar to those of the flu.
Not within 24 hours** can be fatal.
Symptoms of malaria infection usually begin within 10-15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. The main clinical symptoms include chills, fever, sweating, etc., and the typical clinical symptoms are cyclical, occurring once a day or every other day or every two days. However, the clinical symptoms of many imported malaria cases are usually atypical, with inconspicuous periodic episodes, and sometimes accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea, cough and other symptoms. In severe cases, coma and shock may occur, as well as liver and kidney failure. If left untreated, it may be life-threatening due to delayed illness.
Because the symptoms are similar to epidemics, many people tend to mistake malaria for a cold, so they do not pay attention to it and do not receive timely medicine**, which makes the condition worse. If not given within 24 hours**, falciparum malaria can progress to severe malaria and is often fatal.
In December last year, one malaria death was reported in Taiwan. According to *** citing Taiwan media reports, from mid-October to late November last year, the man had been to Nigeria, but did not take malaria prophylaxis, and after returning to Taiwan, he had symptoms of fever and chills, and there were signs of severe illness when he sought medical treatment. The case was confirmed to be infected with falciparum malaria on 1 December, and died the following day after suffering from low blood pressure and multiple organ failure, cerebral edema and septic shock.
What to do if you have malaria?
What is the prognosis? Returnees from malaria-endemic areas should always pay attention to their own health conditions, such as chills, fever, sweating and other uncomfortable symptoms, they should go to the hospital for treatment in time, and should take the initiative to inform their travel history when seeking medical treatment. If malaria is diagnosed, antimalarial drugs should be taken in full and sufficient amounts as prescribed. If infected with Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium ovale, it is necessary to carry out anti-malaria parasites in March and April of the second year to completely kill the malaria parasites in the body to prevent **.
Patients with non-severe malaria or no serious complications have a good prognosis and no sequelae as long as they are timely and standardized. However, the mortality rate of severe malaria is higher, and the higher the protozoa density, the later the treatment time, and the worse the prognosis.
Is there a vaccine against malaria?
Plasmodium is a complex organism with a complex life cycle. The parasite is able to evade the body's immune system by constantly changing its surface, so it is very difficult to develop a vaccine that targets these different surfaces. Scientists do not yet fully understand the complex immune responses that protect humans from malaria. Since other methods of fighting malaria, including drugs, insecticides and insecticide-treated bed nets, have not succeeded in eliminating the disease, the search for a vaccine is one of the most important research projects in the field of public health. RTS,S AS01 (RTS,S) is a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum, and since October 2021, WHO has recommended the use of the RTS,S malaria vaccine for children living in areas with moderate to high transmission of Plasmodium falciparum.
Be vigilant when traveling to these areas.
Malaria-endemic areas are mainly distributed in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Americas, among which malaria is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia.
Cases of malaria have been reported in popular tourist countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Brazil, and Myanmar.
In the World Health Organization's Malaria Report 2022, about 2 cases of malaria were reported in 84 malaria-endemic countries in 20214.7 billion cases, of which 6190,000 deaths from malaria; The majority of cases and deaths occurred in the African Region, followed by the South-East Asia Region.
What should I pay attention to when planning to go abroad in the near future?
Before leaving the country. You should learn about the malaria epidemic situation in the destination country, learn about malaria prevention and control, and consult the local customs or international travel health care center about the use of preventive drugs.
During an overseas trip.
Try to avoid going out into the wild between dusk and dawn (the peak period of mosquito activity) in malaria-endemic countries or regions.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants during outdoor activities at night, and apply insect repellent to the exposed area to prevent bites.
Use mosquito nets, mosquito coils and other mosquito prevention measures when sleeping.
Once symptoms such as chills, fever, and diarrhea appear, you should seek medical attention in time to prevent the condition from worsening.
When returning to your home country.
If you have fever, diarrhea and other symptoms, you should truthfully declare your health status and travel and residence history in malaria-endemic areas to the customs, and cooperate with the investigation of infectious diseases.
After returning to your home country.
Returnees who have traveled to malaria-endemic countries or regions for a short period of time and develop symptoms such as fever and diarrhea within one month after entering the country should promptly seek medical treatment at a county-level or above-level hospital, and inform the doctor of their travel and residence history in malaria-endemic areas or countries, so as to be early detection, early diagnosis and early **, so as to avoid life-threatening situations.
Returnees who have not traveled to malaria-endemic countries or regions for a short period of time are advised to go to a medical institution for malaria parasite testing in time after entering the country. If fever symptoms appear within 2 years after entering the country, you should go to a hospital at or above the county level in a timely manner, and inform the doctor of your travel history to a country or region where malaria is endemic. (China News Network).