Epidemiology of malaria in Australia 1991 - 1995

Abstract

Australia has been certified malaria free since 1981 but the number of imported cases has increased steadily since 1960. Many of these cases are in returning travellers. Data from the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, supplemented by summaries from States and Territories, provide an overview of the epidemiology of malaria in Australia. Between 1991 and 1995 there were 3,480 cases of malaria notified. The male:female ratio was 2.4:1 and the highest rate of notification was recorded for males in the 25 to 29 years age group. The highest number of cases was notified each year in January and February. In the State and Territory reports Plasmodium vivax was the predominate species reported and Papua New Guinea the predominate country of acquisition. A number of jurisdictions reported inadequate prophylaxis as a risk factor. Improved malaria surveillance is required to adequately inform travel health advice and to reduce the rates of imported malaria.