Ooi, Choo Huck and Phang, Wei Kit and Liew, Jonathan Wee Kent and Atroosh, Wahib M. and Lau, Yee Ling (2023) Profiling the imported human malaria in Sarawak, Malaysia in 2011-2019. Tropical Medicine and International Health, 28 (6). pp. 486-500. ISSN 1360-2276, DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13875.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
ObjectivesMalaysia has achieved the status of zero indigenous human malaria cases. Nevertheless, imported human malaria has increasingly been reported in Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. As zoonotic malaria caused by Plasmodium knowlesi remains a major public health problem in Sarawak, the threat of imported malaria must be addressed as it can cause human malaria reintroduction, sustain transmission, and lead to complications. The objectives of this study were to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria cases reported in Sarawak and to underline the challenge posed by imported malaria towards malaria elimination efforts.MethodsImported malaria cases reported in Sarawak from 2011 to 2019 were collected from Sarawak State Health Department and analysed in this longitudinal retrospective study.ResultsA total of 2058 imported malaria cases were registered in all districts in Sarawak. Highest number of cases were reported in Kapit (n = 559; 27.16%), followed by Sibu (n = 424; 20.6%), and Miri (n = 166; 8.07%). Based on the demographic profile, most of the patients constituted of either male sex (98.49%), age group of 40-49 years (39.6%), Iban ethnic (57.92%), worked in logging industry (88.58%), Malaysian nationals (91.84%), contracted malaria in Papua New Guinea (46.11%), uncomplicated disease (77.89%), or hospitalised cases (97.86%). The most prominent Plasmodium species diagnosed were P. vivax (52.67%) and P. falciparum (35.81%).ConclusionsSurveillance, disease detection, and medical follow-up must be carried out thoroughly for individuals who returned from malaria-endemic countries. It is also necessary to promote pre-travel preventive education as well as chemoprophylaxis to travellers heading to endemic areas.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | Graduate Research Assistantship - Long Term Research Grant Scheme from the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia [Grant No: LRGS/1/2018/UM/01/1/4 (LR002D-2018)] |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Imported disease; Malaria; Malaysia; Plasmodium falciparum; Plasmodium vivax; Sarawak |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine > Parasitology Deparment |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Sep 2025 05:53 |
| Last Modified: | 30 Sep 2025 05:53 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/50338 |
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