In Spain, about 800 cases of imported malaria are detected annually

IN Spain are detected every year between 700 and 850 cases of imported malaria, that is, in patients infected in an endemic region, mainly Africa.

Only 15% of these cases involve malaria species that can be effectively transmitted by the Anopheles maculipennis mosquito.

A recent study coordinated by researchers from the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC), the National Center of Epidemiology (ISCIII) and the Center for Networked Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (Ciberesp) analyzed Distribution of major mosquitoes malaria or malaria transmitter present in Spain.

The study involved researchers from universities, research centers, pest control companies and mosquito control services. The work reflects that the mosquito Anopheles maculipennis is widespread in Spain

with a special predilection for river mouths and valleys with irrigated agricultural areas.

Malaria, or malaria, is a serious disease present in many tropical countries, caused by infection with protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, transmitted by Anopheles mosquitoes.

However, transmission has also been frequently observed in other regions of the world in the past, such as most of Europe and other economically developed countries.

Eradication campaigns carried out in the middle The twentieth century managed to make it disappear in many countries, Among them is Spain, which declared itself free of malaria in 1964.

VERY SPORADIC CASES

Since then very sporadic cases have been reported local transmission due to the arrival of infected travelers and the presence of mosquitoes in the area that can carry the parasite.

In Spain, only two cases of local transmission due to mosquito bites have been reported during this century.

Researchers they analyzed mosquitoes present more than 3000 locations on the peninsula and Balearic Islands.

“Although the risk of local transmission is very low, these models are useful to identify areas with a higher risk of local transmission, and preventive measures must be followed when traveling to countries where malaria is endemic,” said Jordi Figerola, researcher at the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC ) and principal investigator of Ciberesp.

Diana Gómez Barroso and Beatriz Fernández, researchers at the National Epidemiological Center and Ciberesp, said that “it is very important that travelers are aware of the risks in the areas they visit and know what to do when they return.”

“In addition, health workers must know how to recognize and respond to imported diseases such as malaria, including notifying the public health system for surveillance, and have the ability to take appropriate action,” he concluded.

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