Between 1973 and 1976, 96 confirmed hospital cases of imported malaria occurred in Marseille. The collected epidemiological data indicate the recent increase of the annual incidence and an equal number of cases in immigrants and in people returning from the tropics. Among them, tourists, servicemen and merchant seamen are the groups most at risk. A high proportion of infections are with P. falciparum, mainly from Africa, Malagasy and Comoros. The diagnosis is only confirmed on an average of 6 days after the first medical advice and 2 patients died from falciparum infections. Travellers to tropical countries are often careless about taking prophylactic drugs and the danger of imported malaria should be emphasized.