[Malaria incidence in Germany 1998/99--results of single case studies of the Robert Koch Institute].

Malaria is a common imported infectious disease in Germany. A total of 931 cases of malaria were reported in Germany in 1999 (1998: 1,008 cases). Most of the infected patients were 24-45 years of age. Eighty per cent of the cases acquired infection in Africa, in Asia (8.5%) and in Central and South America (5%). Plasmodium falciparum accounted for the largest number of cases (80%) followed by Plasmodium vivax (12%). In 1999 60% of all malaria cases were Germans. Most of them travelled for holidays or study purposes. 20 deaths, all attributed to falciparum malaria, were notified in 1999, most of them (19) were German citizens. In 1999 61% of the patients had not taken chemoprophylaxis at all while travelling abroad. Improving prophylactic measures is the only way to reduce the incidence of malaria cases in Germany.