Malaria and Pregnancy.

Recent identification of local mosquito-borne transmission of malaria in Florida, Texas, and Maryland and increasing travel to malaria-endemic countries raise the likelihood that U.S. obstetricians might encounter a pregnant patient with malaria.

Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2016.

Problem/condition: Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles species mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission.

Investigation of a case of suspected transfusion-transmitted malaria.

Background: Transfusion-transmitted malaria (TTM) is a rare occurrence with serious consequences for the recipient. A case study is presented as an example of best practices for conducting a TTM investigation.

Case Report: A 15-year-old male with a history of sickle cell disease developed fever after a blood transfusion.

Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2015.

Problem/condition: Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles species mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission.

Updated CDC Recommendations for Using Artemether-Lumefantrine for the Treatment of Uncomplicated Malaria in Pregnant Women in the United States.

Malaria infection during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk for maternal and fetal complications. In the United States, treatment options for uncomplicated, chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum and P. vivax malaria in pregnant women are limited to mefloquine or quinine plus clindamycin (1).

Next-Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Protocol for Malaria Drug Resistance Marker Surveillance.

The recent advances in next-generation sequencing technologies provide a new and effective way of tracking malaria drug-resistant parasites. To take advantage of this technology, an end-to-end Illumina targeted amplicon deep sequencing (TADS) and bioinformatics pipeline for molecular surveillance of drug resistance in , called laria esistance urveillance (MaRS), was developed. TADS relies on PCR enriching genomic regions, specifically target genes of interest, prior to deep sequencing.

Molecular Characterization of a Cluster of Imported Malaria Cases in Puerto Rico.

The Caribbean island of Hispaniola is targeted for malaria elimination. Currently, this is the only island with ongoing transmission of malaria in the Caribbean. In 2015, six patients from Puerto Rico and one from Massachusetts, who traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, were confirmed to be infected with Additional molecular analysis was performed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to characterize the drug-resistant alleles and population genetic markers.

Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2014.

Problem/condition: Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission.

Long term health outcomes among Returned Peace Corps Volunteers after malaria prophylaxis, 1995-2014.

Background: A primary reason for non-adherence to malaria chemoprophylaxis is fear of latent side effects. We examined latent effects of malaria chemoprophylaxis among Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs).

Methods: During July 18-September 16, 2016, RPCVs who served during 1995-2014 with an e-mail address in Peace Corps' RPCV database were invited to take an internet-based survey on malaria prophylaxis and medical diagnoses.

Notes from the Field: Imported Cases of Malaria--Puerto Rico, July-October 2015.

On July 16 2015, the Puerto Rico Department of Health (PRDH) was notified of a case of malaria, diagnosed by a hospital parasitology laboratory in a student who had traveled to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, during late June for a school-organized graduation trip. Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic infection, characterized by fever, shaking chills, headaches, muscle pains, nausea, general malaise, and vomiting (1). Malaria can be clinically difficult to distinguish from other acute febrile illnesses, and a definitive diagnosis requires demonstration of malaria parasites using microscopy or molecular diagnostic tests.

Advanced Molecular Detection of Malarone Resistance.

The rapid emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites during the course of an infection remains a major challenge for providing accurate treatment guidelines. This is particularly important in cases of malaria treatment failure. Using a previously well-characterized case of malaria treatment failure, we show the utility of using next-generation sequencing for early detection of the rise and selection of a previously reported atovaquone-proguanil (malarone) drug resistance-associated mutation.

Malaria Surveillance - United States, 2013.

Problem/condition: Malaria in humans is caused by intraerythrocytic protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. These parasites are transmitted by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito. The majority of malaria infections in the United States occur among persons who have traveled to regions with ongoing malaria transmission.

Inadequate Diagnosis and Treatment of Malaria Among Travelers Returning from Africa During the Ebola Epidemic--United States, 2014-2015.

Among 1,683 persons in the United States who developed malaria following international travel during 2012, more than half acquired disease in one of 16 countries in West Africa. Since March 2014, West Africa has experienced the world's largest epidemic of Ebola virus disease (Ebola), primarily affecting Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia; in 2014, approximately 20,000 Ebola cases were reported. Both Ebola and malaria are often characterized by fever and malaise and can be clinically indistinguishable, especially early in the course of disease.

Surveillance for the safety and effectiveness of artemether-lumefantrine in patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in the USA: a descriptive analysis.

Background: Data from clinical studies show that artemether-lumefantrine (AL) is effective and well tolerated in adults and children with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. However, data on effectiveness and safety of AL in patients in non-endemic settings are limited.

Methods: A 5-year surveillance plan included all AL-treated adult and paediatric patients with confirmed or suspected P.

Intravenous Artesunate for the Treatment of Severe and Complicated Malaria in the United States: Clinical Use Under an Investigational New Drug Protocol.

Background: Quinidine gluconate, the only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for life-threatening malaria in the United States, has a problematic safety profile and is often unavailable in hospitals.