Exuma Alert From CDC

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Outbreak Notice Malaria, Great Exuma, Bahamas: Recommendations for Travelers This information is current as of today,
June 19, 2006, 11:28:50 PM
Released: June 16, 2006
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently received official reports of 14 confirmed malaria cases in Great Exuma, Bahamas, an area where malaria transmission does not normally occur and for which antimalarial drugs have not previously been recommended. Thirteen cases occurred in residents of the Bahamas, and an additional malaria infection was confirmed in a U.S. citizen who traveled to Great Exuma in early May 2006. All these confirmed infections were caused by Plasmodium falciparum. Most of the patients reported no recent travel to malaria-endemic areas, but some of the Bahamas residents may have recently traveled from Haiti, where P. falciparum is endemic.

Malaria is not considered endemic on the islands of the Bahamas. The Ministry of Health in the Bahamas has responded with heightened surveillance for and treatment of malaria cases, mosquito control measures, and education of the local population. The Caribbean Epidemiology Center and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization are assisting the Ministry of Health with these response measures.

Antimalarial Medication
At this time, CDC is recommending chloroquine as an antimalarial medication for travelers to Great Exuma. This recommendation is expected to be temporary and does not apply to other islands of the Bahamas. Chloroquine has a long history of use and safety and is well tolerated by most people, including children. People with an allergy to chloroquine should discuss an alternative antimalarial drug with their health-care provider. To learn more about chloroquine, including dosing information, see Information for the Public: Prescription Drugs for Malaria.
Other Prevention Measures

Because antimalarial drugs are not 100% protective, travelers to Great Exuma should take precautions to protect against mosquito bites. These prevention measures should be taken by travelers to other islands in the Bahamas, as well.
Use insect repellent on exposed skin surfaces when outdoors, particularly from dusk to dawn. Repellents containing 30% – 50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended. Lower concentrations of DEET offer shorter-term protection, requiring more frequent reapplication.
To learn more about preventing mosquito bites and the appropriate use of insect repellents, visit Protection Against Mosquito and Other Arthropods in Health Information for International Travel and What You Need to Know about Mosquito Repellent.
Malaria caused by P. falciparum may rapidly result in a severe, life-threatening illness if not promptly treated. If you have traveled to Great Exuma and you become ill with fever and other flu-like symptoms, you should immediately seek professional medical care; inform your health-care provider that you have visited an area currently experiencing a malaria outbreak.
Visit the CDC’s Travelers’ Health website for Health information for Travelers to Countries in the Caribbean.

Additional information about malaria can be found at the CDC Malaria homepage.
Health-care providers needing assistance with diagnosis or management of suspected cases of malaria should call the CDC Malaria Hotline: 770-488-7788 (M-F, 8 am-4:30 pm, Eastern Time). For consultation after hours, call 770-488-7100 and ask to speak with a CDC Malaria Branch clinician.


Date: June 16, 2006
Content Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine

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