[Imported malaria at the CHU in Rouen (author's transl)].

In the Bacteriology-Parasitology laboratory of CHU in Rouen, we diagnosed from 1970 to 1978: 49 cases of imported malaria and 3 cases following transfusion of blood by finding of erythrocytic parasite. It is necessary to report: 26 more cases, diagnosed by immunologic test (IFI) which, being the total number reported to 78. 71,5% of the cases of imported malaria were caused by Plasmodium falciparum, including one fatal case of cerebral malaria. Patients were europeans (45%) and immigrants living in Rouen (55%) who were returning from an endemic area and did not receive chemoprophylaxis or did not take it correctly. In front of actual increasing number of imported malaria cases, it is essential to inform travellers on the risk involved and importance of chemoprophylaxis.