Epidemiological profile of the imported Malaria in the north region of Morocco from 2014 to 2018

Abstract

In Morocco, the epidemiological surveillance of imported Malaria still be the pillar of the eradication strategy of the disease as part of environmental health. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of malaria in north region of Morocco. It is retrospective descriptive study, based on program reports, carried out from 28 April 2019 to 18 February 2020 covering 2014-2018 period. The statistical analysis is performed by Epiinfo 7. In total, 59 cases of imported Malaria were reported. Tangier-Assilah province presented the majority of the cases (62.7%). The frequency was highest in 2018 with 35,2% (19) of cases. The male patient (79.7%) and the age of] 15-30] years (50%) were the most detected. 55.5% of the cases had a Moroccan nationality and were travelling from Guinea (33.9%). Diagnosis was conducting less than 2 days in 75% since the onset of clinical signs. The parasite was Plasmodium falciparum for 84.7% of Malaria cases. In conclusion, to prevent the risk of re-emergence of the disease in the region, the prevention and control measures against the imported malaria can be established at the regional as well as national level to achieve the objective of the malaria eradication in Morocco.

Anopheles mosquitoes in Morocco: implication for public health and underlined challenges for malaria re‐establishment prevention under current and future climate conditions

“…[4][5][6] Having actively adhered to international initiatives (Roll Back Malaria), the country succeeded in gradually reducing the number of indigenous cases to 19, 4, and 1 in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively, reaching a total cessation of transmission in 2005. 7 This enabled the World Health Organization to certify it as a malaria-free country in May 2010, 3 while strongly recommending maintaining appropriate antimalarial programmes to prevent its possible re-emergence. Several factors contributed to this accomplishment (i.e., the decline of malaria), encompassing alterations in land use and agriculture, advancements in socioeconomic conditions, and dedicated intervention initiatives.…”

“…8 In 2017 alone, the Moroccan health ministry registered 291 imported malaria cases, with an average of 255.60 cases per year between 2012 and 2016. 7 The majority were adults and males returning from endemic areas, especially African countries. Another retrospective descriptive study carried out in the north part of the country from 2014 to 2018 reported 59 cases of imported Malaria, of which 55% and 25.9% were from Guinea and Ivory Coast.…”

“…Another retrospective descriptive study carried out in the north part of the country from 2014 to 2018 reported 59 cases of imported Malaria, of which 55% and 25.9% were from Guinea and Ivory Coast. 7 The availability of competent vectors coupled with favourable climatic circumstances could lead to the re-emergence of malaria in regions where the disease had previously been eradicated. This was recently the case in multiple countries such as Germany, 9 the Netherlands, 10 Spain, 11 France, 12 and Greece 13 that has reported autochthonous transmission after years of absence.…”

“…About nine Anopheles mosquitoes exist in the country of which Anopheles claviger (Meigen, 1804), Anopheles labranchiae (Falleroni, 1926), Anopheles multicolor (Cambouliu, 1902), and Anopheles sergentii (Theobald, 1907) have been implicated or incriminated to play a role in malaria transmission 4–6 . Having actively adhered to international initiatives (Roll Back Malaria), the country succeeded in gradually reducing the number of indigenous cases to 19, 4, and 1 in 2002, 2003, and 2004, respectively, reaching a total cessation of transmission in 2005 7 . This enabled the World Health Organization to certify it as a malaria‐free country in May 2010, 3 while strongly recommending maintaining appropriate antimalarial programmes to prevent its possible re‐emergence.…”

“…Indeed, a retrospective study focused on imported malaria cases in Marrakesh, central Morocco, between 1996 and 2016, reported 208 cases from 24 African countries, especially from Equatorial Guinea (28%), Guinea Conakry (11%), Ivory Coast (9%), Burkina Faso (8%), and Mali (7%) 8 . In 2017 alone, the Moroccan health ministry registered 291 imported malaria cases, with an average of 255.60 cases per year between 2012 and 2016 7 . The majority were adults and males returning from endemic areas, especially African countries.…”