Malaria still can kill; Airmen must take precautions

  • Published
  • By 95th Medical Group
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Malaria, which infected more than 100 U.S. servicemembers in 2010, is still a threat that can kill and Airmen need to take precautions to help ensure they don't fall prey to this disease.

One hundred thirteen U.S. military members contracted malaria in 2010, According to the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center in its Medical Surveillance Monthly Report for January 2011.

Over half of these military members got the disease while serving in Afghanistan.

Malaria can be life-threatening if left untreated. It is a major problem in the tropics and in some temperate regions; therefore individuals are at risk when they travel to these areas. Symptoms can range from chills and muscle pain to coma.

It is transmitted from person to person by the bite of an infected mosquito.

There are four different types of mosquito species that are responsible for malaria infections: Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium malariae, Plasmodium ovale and, the one that causes most deaths, the Plasmodium falciparum.

Researchers at the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center reviewed the medical records of active duty and reserve members and found that the number of cases in 2010 was higher than the previous three years.

The reason is the increased Air Force deployments to areas where malaria is common such as Afghanistan and Africa. Of the 113 malaria cases, 58 of the infections were acquired in Afghanistan, 24 in Africa, 14 in Haiti during a large disaster response mission, and six in Korea.

Among the servicemembers diagnosed with malaria in 2010, nearly 11 percent (12 out of 113) were born in places where malaria is common. It is believed that these individuals - after leaving their home country for periods of time - lost their immunity to malaria and became more susceptible to the disease during personal travels to their country of origin.

The most effective countermeasures against malaria include chemoprophylactic drugs, permethrin-impregnanted uniforms and bed nets. Airmen should use insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide).

When individuals acquire malaria it is often because of non-compliance, therefore it is important that individuals deploying or visiting these malaria-prone areas adhere to their chemoprophylactic regimen. Airmen need to stick to the regimen before, during and after deployment or a visit, and use personal protective measures against contact with mosquitoes.

Information source: Medical Surveillance Monthly Report: A publication of the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Center, Vol. 18, No. 1, January 2011, http://www.afhsc.mil.