Cases of falciparum malaria imported into Germany from southern Thailand

Holiday destinations where Plasmodium falciparum infections in tourists are hitherto unknown are by no means always safe, as a recent report in Germany’s surveillance bulletin shows (1). Two almost simultaneous but unrelated cases of falciparum malaria have been reported to Germany’s Robert Koch-Institut. Both patients had visited Thailand, where tourist destinations are regarded as non-malarial, and no recommendations for chemoprophylaxis have so far been issued for tourists.