Malaria Outbreak in Egypt: Recommendations for Travelers

A map of Egypt showing the location of Aswan Governorate (source: www.wikipedia.org)

There have been no cases of locally-transmitted malaria in Egypt since June 14, 2014. Between late May to mid-June, 19 locally-acquired P. vivax malaria cases were identified in one village of the Aswan Governorate in Egypt.

CDC continues to recommend that travelers to the Aswan Governorate in Egypt use mosquito avoidance measures to prevent malaria. These preventive measures include using insect repellant, protective clothing, and sleeping in either an air conditioned or well-screened setting or under an insecticide-treated bed net.

Egypt had eliminated malaria, and until now, the last locally transmitted case was in 1998. The Aswan governorate is along the southern part of the Nile River (see map), and it is believed that the P. vivax malaria came from Sudanese migrants.

The Egyptian Ministry of Health and local government and health authorities have engaged in intensive malaria control activities in the affected village of Aswan Governorate. They have recently completed active surveillance involving screening, and treating if needed, all villagers for malaria. Mosquito control activities have included entomologic surveillance, and environmental management.

This notice will be updated as information becomes available.

See the CDC Malaria website for additional health information about malaria and preventing malaria. For general health information for travelers to all areas of the world, see the CDC Travelers' Health website.