Malaria in Italy (Tuscany): local transmission

In August 2018, a Moroccan man living in Tuscany was diagnosed to be affected by Plasmodium falciparum malaria. The patient declared having not recently visited any endemic country, and this led to a delay in recognising the disease until severe signs of the illness (anaemia) occurred. Although the susceptibility to P. falciparum of Anopheles species in Tuscany is considered very low, isolated cases of introduced malaria infections may occur in summer season. However, the case remains unexplained and other risk factors for acquiring malaria could not be completely excluded; the event is similar to other P. falciparum malaria cases previously reported in 2017 in individuals coming from Africa and living in Apulia, in the south of Italy.

Eurosurveillance has published a rapid communication last October 2018.

Reference

Zammarchi Lorenzo, Di Lauria Nicoletta, Bartalesi Filippo, Suardi Lorenzo Roberto, Corti Giampaolo, Mencarini Jessica, Boccolini Daniela, Severini Carlo, Gradoni Luigi, Buonamici Carla, Garofalo Giorgio, Bartolesi Anna Maria, Ciccone Nunziata, Berni Andrea, Poggesi Loredana, Niccolini Fabrizio, Rossolini Gian Maria, Romi Roberto, Bartoloni Alessandro. Cryptic severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria in a Moroccan man living in Tuscany, Italy, August 2018. Euro Surveill.

018;23(41):pii=1800527. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.41.1800527