In response to the recent information about a Plasmodium vivax malaria outbreak in the Aswan Governorate in Egypt, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a notice for US travelers to this area of southern Egypt.
After the first locally-transmitted cases were reported in late May 2014, 19 locally acquired cases have been confirmed according to information received by federal health officials. These are the first autochthonous malaria cases seen in Egypt since 1998.
The Aswan governorate is along the southern part of the Nile River, and it is believed that the P. vivax malaria came from Sudanese migrants.
The Egyptian Ministry of Health and local government and health authorities have engaged in intensive malaria control activities in the affected village of Aswan Governorate. They have recently completed active surveillance involving screening, and treating if needed, all villagers for malaria. Mosquito control activities have included entomologic surveillance, and environmental management.
CDC recommends that travelers to Aswan Governorate in Egypt protect themselves from mosquito bites. Prescription medicine to prevent malaria is not recommended for travelers to Aswan Governate in Egypt at this time.
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