Abstract
Global migration has resulted in a large number of asylum applications in Europe. In 2014, clusters of Plasmodium vivax cases were reported among newly arrived Eritreans. This study aimed to assess malaria among Eritrean migrants in Europe from 2011 to 2016. We reviewed European migration numbers and malaria surveillance data for seven countries (Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) which received 44,050 (94.3%) of 46,730 Eritreans seeking asylum in Europe in 2014. The overall number of malaria cases, predominantly P. vivax, increased significantly in 2014 compared to previous years, with the largest increases in Germany (44 P. vivax cases in 2013 vs 294 in 2014, p < 0.001) and Sweden (18 in 2013 vs 205 in 2014, p < 0.001). Overall, malaria incidence in Eritreans increased from 1–5 to 25 cases per 1,000, and was highest in male teenagers (50 cases/1,000). In conclusion, an exceptional increase of malaria cases occurred in Europe in 2014 and 2015, due to rising numbers of Eritreans with high incidence of P. vivax arriving in Europe. Our results demonstrate potential for rapid changes in imported malaria patterns, highlighting the need for improved awareness, surveillance efforts and timely healthcare in migrants.
Highlights
Between 2010 and 2013, approximately 5,200 to 5,700 cases of imported malaria were reported annually in Europe, in both travellers and migrants [1]
An exceptional increase of malaria cases occurred in Europe in 2014 and 2015, due to rising numbers of Eritreans with high incidence of P. vivax arriving in Europe
In 2014, 46,730 (7.1%) of the 662,165 asylum applications in Europe were submitted by Eritreans, a statistically significant increase compared to previous years (Table 1, Supplementary Figure S1 p < 0.001)
Summary
Between 2010 and 2013, approximately 5,200 to 5,700 cases of imported malaria were reported annually in Europe, in both travellers and migrants [1]. Most cases were caused by Plasmodium falciparum acquired in sub-Saharan Africa. Plasmodium vivax was the second most common species, accounting for approximately. 10% to 25% of cases and was mainly acquired in Asia [2,3]. Europe saw a large increase in asylum seekers from 2013 to 2015, including people from malariaendemic countries. To what extent the patterns of imported malaria are affected by changing migration patterns has not yet been explored. Sporadic reports of P. vivax cases among newly arrived
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Schedule a callMore From: Euro surveillance : bulletin Europeen sur les maladies transmissibles = European communicable disease bulletin
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