Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Outbreak Notice: September 14, 2102
As of August 5, 2012, 8 cases of malaria have been reported from
the Attica and Laconia regions of Greece. Cases have occurred in the
cities of Marathon, Markopoulo, and Evrotas. No cases have been reported
in Athens. The Hellenic (Greek) CDC and the European CDC are improving
surveillance for malaria cases. In affected areas, mosquito control has
been intensified, healthcare providers have been educated, and the
public has been informed.
All travelers should take steps to prevent mosquito bites when
traveling in Greece. In addition, because of the recent cases of
malaria, CDC recommends that travelers to the agricultural areas of Evrotas take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. If
you are traveling to the affected areas of Evrotas, talk to your doctor
about whether you should take medicine to prevent malaria.
Whether or not you need to take medicine will depend on where you
are traveling, the length of your trip, your planned activities, your
health history, and other medicines you are taking.
After Travel
Take all fevers seriously during travel and up to 1 year after
return from a country with malaria. If you have a fever or other
symptoms of malaria, see a doctor right away. Tell the doctor that you
have traveled to an area with malaria.
Clinicians information
Travelers who have symptoms of malaria should seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.
Physicians should consider malaria in any patient with a febrile
illness who has recently returned from a malaria-endemic country.
Malaria can be treated effectively early in the course of the
disease, but delay of appropriate therapy can have serious or even fatal
consequences. Travelers who have symptoms of malaria should be advised
to seek medical evaluation as soon as possible.
Specific treatment options depend on the species of malaria, the
likelihood of drug resistance (based on where the infection was
acquired), the age of the patient, pregnancy status, and the severity of
infection.
For more information: CDC / Malaria in Greece
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