EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MALARIA IN THE STATE OF QATAR, 2008-2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Imported malaria poses a serious public health problem in Qatar because its population is "naïve" to such infection; where local transmission might lead to serious, life-threatening infection and might even trigger epidemics. METHODS: This study is a retrospective review of the imported malaria cases in Qatar reported by the malaria surveillance program at the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), during the period between January 2008 and December 2015. All cases were imported and underwent parasitological confirmation through microscopy. RESULTS: was found to be the main etiologic agent accounting for more than three-quarters (78.7%) of the imported cases. In addition, almost a third (33.1%) of the cases were reported during the months of July, August, and September. CONCLUSIONS: Imported malaria in Qatar has witnessed an increase during the past seven years, despite a long period of constant reduction; where the people most affected were adult male migrants from endemic countries. Many challenges need to be overcome to prevent the reintroduction of malaria into the country.