Probable autochthonous introduced malaria cases in Italy in 2009–2011 and the risk of local vector-borne transmission

R Romi; D Boccolini; M Menegon; G Rezza

doi:10.2807/ese.17.48.20325-en

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Probable autochthonous introduced malaria cases in Italy in 2009–2011 and the risk of local vector-borne transmission

R Romi¹, D Boccolini¹, M Menegon¹, G Rezza¹
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Affiliations: ¹ Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases (MIPI), Rome, Italy

Correspondence:
R Romi
roberto.romi iss.it
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Citation style for this article: Romi R, Boccolini D, Menegon M, Rezza G. Probable autochthonous introduced malaria cases in Italy in 2009–2011 and the risk of local vector-borne transmission. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(48):pii=20325. https://doi.org/10.2807/ese.17.48.20325-en Received: 09 Nov 2012; Accepted:

Abstract

We describe two cases of probable autochthonous introduced Plasmodium vivax malaria that occurred in 2009 and 2011 in two sites of South-Central Italy. Although the sources of the infections were not detected, local transmission could not be disproved and therefore the cases were classified as autochthonous. Sporadic P. vivax cases transmitted by indigenous vectors may be considered possible in some areas of the country where vector abundance and environmental conditions are favourable to malaria transmission.