New Malaria Cases in Kingston, Jamaica

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received a report of an additional case of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a resident of Kingston, Jamaica. This brings the total number of recent cases to two, suggesting that the outbreak that started in September 2006 resulting in 370 cases by June 2007 is still continuing. As a result, CDC is reinstating the recommendation that US travelers to Kingston, Jamaica, take malaria preventive medication (prophylaxis).

This recommendation is expected to be temporary and does not apply to other areas of Jamaica. Jamaica is a country where malaria is not considered endemic and malaria transmission does not normally occur. The Ministry of Health in Jamaica has responded to these latest cases with heightened surveillance for malaria cases, measures to control mosquitoes (larviciding and spraying), and educating the local population.

Antimalarial Medication

CDC recommends antimalarial medication for travelers who stay overnight in Kingston, Jamaica, only. Travelers to other areas of Jamaica do not need to take an antimalarial drug. This recommendation is expected to be temporary. Travelers should periodically check the CDC Travelers’ Health website for updates.

Chloroquine, the recommended prophylaxis, has a long history of use and safety and is well tolerated by most people, including children. People with an allergy to chloroquine should discuss an alternative antimalarial drug with their health-care provider. To learn more about chloroquine, including dosing information, see Information for the Public: Prescription Drugs for Malaria.

Other Prevention Measures

Because no antimalarial drug is 100% protective, travelers to Jamaica should take precautions to protect against mosquito bites:

* Use insect repellent on exposed skin surfaces when outdoors, particularly from dusk to dawn. Repellents containing 30%-50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults. Lower concentrations of DEET offer shorter-term protection, requiring more frequent reapplication.
o For additional information regarding the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the “Insect and Other Arthropod Protection” section in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children and the “Children” section of CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.
* To learn more about preventing mosquito bites and the appropriate use of insect repellents, visit Protection Against Mosquitoes and Other Arthropods in CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008 and What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellents.

Malaria caused by P. falciparum may rapidly result in a severe, life-threatening illness if not promptly treated. If you have traveled to Jamaica and you become ill with fever and other flu-like symptoms, you should immediately seek professional medical care; inform your health-care provider about your recent travel.

More Information

For additional information about health recommendations for travel to Jamaica, visit CDC’s Travelers’ Health webpage, Health Information for Travel to Jamaica.

Additional information about malaria can be found at the CDC Malaria homepage.

Health-care providers needing assistance with diagnosis or management of suspected cases of malaria should call the CDC Malaria Hotline: 770-488-7788 (M-F, 8 am-4:30 pm, Eastern Time). For consultation after hours, call 770-488-7100 and ask to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician.