Epidemiological profile of imported malaria cases in Colombia

Authors

  • Julio C. Padilla-Rodríguez Red de Gestión de Conocimiento, Investigación e Innovación en Malaria, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
  • Mario J. Olivera Grupo de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6885-6353
  • Luis Acuña-Cantillo Grupo de Entomología, Instituto Nacional de Salud de Colombia, Bogotá D.C., Colombia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e2197

Keywords:

Malaria, Cases, Imported, Colombia, Plasmodium vivax

Abstract

Despite the significant progress made in reducing morbidity and mortality in recent years, malaria remains a critical global health challenge. In Colombia, we are working towards eliminating malaria to achieve zero indigenous cases of human malaria. In this effort, it is also essential to understand the epidemiological profile of imported cases. This study aimed to determine the epidemiological situation of imported malaria cases in Colombia from 2007 to 2020. An observational, descriptive, and retrospective study used secondary sources for data analysis. A total of 7,583 imported malaria cases (0.8% of total burden) were recorded. 85% (6,507/7,583) were caused by Plasmodium vivax, and 89% (6,772/7,583) were imported from Venezuela. Imported malaria trend varied, contributing minimally to the national burden. Venezuela was identified as the main source of imported cases. These findings will contribute to improving disease surveillance and preventing the reintroduction of malaria in areas undergoing elimination.

References

World Health Organization (WHO) World malaria report 2023. Geneva: WHO; 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240086173

García-Delgado JL, Flores LG, González-Chico MG. Imported malaria in non-endemic countries of the Americas, predisposing factors 2013 – 2017. Bol Mal Salud Amb. 2021;61:52-62. Available from: http://iaes.edu.ve/iaespro/ojs/index.php/bmsa/article/view/130/300

Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) Informe de Evento Malaria, Colombia. Bogotá DC: INS; 2017. [2024 Feb 11]. Available from: https://www.ins.gov.co/buscador-eventos/Informesdeevento/MALARIA%202017.pdf

Padilla-Rodríguez JC, Olivera MJ. Padilla-Herrera MC. Epidemiological evolution and historical antimalarial control initiatives in Colombia, 1848-2019. Infez Med. 2022;30(2):309-319. Available from: https://doi.org/10.53854/liim-3002-19.

Olivera MJ, Padilla Rodríguez JC, Cárdenas Cañón IM. A propensity score matching analysis using statistical methods for estimating the impact of intervention: The cost of malaria and its impact on the health system. Healthc Anal. 2023;4:100246. Available from: https://doi.org/doi: 10.1016/j.health.2023.100246

World Health Organization (WHO) Global Technical Strategy for Malaria 2016–2030. Geneva: WHO; 2015. Available from: https://www.who.int/malaria/publications/atoz/9789241564991/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) Report of the meeting of the WHO Evidence Review Group on the assessment of malariagenic potential to inform elimination strategies and plans to prevent the re-establishment of malaria. Geneva: WHO; 2018. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/WHO-CDS-GMP-MPAC-2019.05

Tatem AJ, Jia P, Ordanovich D, Falkner M, Huang Z, Howes R, et al. The geography of imported malaria to non-endemic countries: a meta-analysis of nationally reported statistics. Lancet Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):98-107. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30326-7.

Rodríguez-Morales AJ, López-Zambrano MA, Harter-Griep R, Vilca-Yengle LM, Cárdenas R. Social aspects of imported malaria in Latin America. Rdo Peru Medicine Exp Public Health. 2008;25(2): 208-16. Available from: https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2008.252.1265

Grillet ME, Hernández-Villena JV, Llewellyn MS, Paniz-Mondolfi AE, Tami A, Vincenti-Gonzalez MF, et al. Venezuela's humanitarian crisis, the resurgence of vector-borne diseases and the implications for contagion in the region. Lancet Infect Dis. 2019;19(5):e149-61. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(18)30757-6.

Olivera M, Peña C, Yasnot MF, Padilla J. Socioeconomic determinants for malaria transmission risk in Colombia: An ecological study. Microbes Infect Chemother. 2022;2:e1339. Available from: https://doi.org/10.54034/mic.e1339

Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Health of international migrants: Communicable diseases. Washington DC: PAHO; 2022. Available from: https://www.paho.org/es/migration-and-health-americas

Padilla-Rodríguez JC, Olivera MJ, Ahumada-Franco ML, Paredes-Medina AE. Malaria risk stratification in Colombia 2010 to 2019. PLoS One. 2021;16: e0247811. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0247811

Rodríguez JC, Olivera MJ, Herrera MCP, Abril EP. Malaria epidemics in Colombia, 1970-2019. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2022;55:e05592021. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0559-2021

Published

2024-10-14

How to Cite

1.
Padilla-Rodríguez JC, Olivera MJ, Acuña-Cantillo L. Epidemiological profile of imported malaria cases in Colombia. Microbes Infect. Chemother. [Internet]. 2024 Oct. 14 [cited 2025 Feb. 14];4:e2197. Available from: https://revistas.unheval.edu.pe/index.php/mic/article/view/2197

Issue

Section

BRIEF COMMUNICATION

Most read articles by the same author(s)