Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Sichuan Province in 2015 in the aim of providing scientific basis for malaria control.
Methods: The epidemiological data of malaria in Sichuan Province reported through the Infectious Disease Reporting and Management System of China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015 were collected and analyzed.
Results: In 2015,290 malaria cases were reported in Sichuan Provinc, consisting of 158 falciparum malaria cases (54.5%),107 vivax malaria cases (36.9%),14 ovale malaria cases (4.8%), one quartan malaria case(0.3%), and 10 mixed infections of vivax malaria and falciparum malaria (3.5%). Five cases of falciparum malaria died. The reported cases were all imported, with a major source of Africa (271, 93.4%), in which Ethiopia (83) and Angola (49) were two major sources. The cases were reported continuously from January to December, with the majority(139, 47.9%) being reported in December, August, June and July. The cases distributed mainly in Guangan, Chengdu, Nanchong, Mianyang, Deyang, Luzhou and Suining(243, 83.8%). Among the 209 cases who first visited medical units after onset, 118 cases were diagnosed as malaria, the misdiagnosis rate at first visit was 43.5%(91/209).
Conclusion: The malaria cases reported in Sichuan Province in 2015 are all imported from overseas, mainly infected with P. falciparum and P. vivax, and imported mostly from Africa. There is a high rate of misdiagnosis in medical units in Sichuan Province.