Lin Fu-Huang, Chou Yu-Ching, Hsieh Chi-Jeng, Huang Yao-Ching, Yu Chia-Peng
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei City, Taiwan.
Department of Healthcare Administration, Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Jan 17;104(3):e41321. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000041321.
Although the World Health Organization (WHO) certified Taiwan as being malaria-free in 1965, there are reports of a few imported cases each year by travelers who visit malaria-endemic areas. This study examined the epidemiology of imported malaria cases in Taiwan from 2014 to 2020, utilizing national surveillance data from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Malaria cases were confirmed through the application of standard laboratory methods. Passenger data came from the Tourism Bureau, Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Taiwan (TBMTC). All data were analyzed using SPSS version 21. The analysis included a dataset comprising 64 cases of imported malaria. Of the total cases, 77.8% were acquired from Africa, and 17.5% from Asia. Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for more than half (57.1%) of the cases, Plasmodium vivax malaria for 25.4% of cases, Plasmodium malariae malaria for 6.3%, Plasmodium ovale malaria for 4.8%, and unspecified pathogen malaria for 6.3% of the cases. Majority of the patients were male (75%) and were predominantly aged 20 to 59 years (70.3%). Most cases of imported malaria occurred during the fall season, and 51.6% of cases occurred in 8 cities during the period of 2014 to 2020. No evidence exists to indicate that indigenous malaria transmission occurs in Taiwan. Anopheles minimus was found in 4 cities (counties), namely Tainan City and Pingtung County in Southern Taiwan; Hualien County and Taitung County in Eastern Taiwan. The findings of this study highlight the necessity for robust surveillance systems, effective vector control measures, and targeted interventions for travelers and immigrants to prevent malaria outbreaks and maintain Taiwan's malaria-free status.
尽管世界卫生组织（WHO）于1965年认证台湾为无疟疾地区，但每年仍有报告称有少数前往疟疾流行地区的旅行者输入病例。本研究利用台湾疾病管制中心的国家监测数据，调查了2014年至2020年台湾输入性疟疾病例的流行病学情况。疟疾病例通过标准实验室方法确诊。旅客数据来自台湾交通和通信部旅游局（TBMTC）。所有数据均使用SPSS 21版进行分析。分析包括一个由64例输入性疟疾病例组成的数据集。在所有病例中，77.8%是从非洲感染的，17.5%是从亚洲感染的。恶性疟原虫导致了一半以上（57.1%）的病例，间日疟原虫导致25.4%的病例，三日疟原虫导致6.3%的病例，卵形疟原虫导致4.8%的病例，未明确病原体的疟疾病例导致6.3%的病例。大多数患者为男性（75%），主要年龄在20至59岁之间（70.3%）。大多数输入性疟疾病例发生在秋季，2014年至2020年期间8个城市发生了51.6%的病例。没有证据表明台湾发生本土疟疾传播。在4个市（县）发现了微小按蚊，即台湾南部的台南市和平东县；台湾东部的花莲县和台东县。本研究结果强调了建立强有力的监测系统、有效的病媒控制措施以及对旅行者和移民进行有针对性干预的必要性，以预防疟疾暴发并维持台湾的无疟疾状态。
