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Malaria in Washington State
DOH has received approximately 20 to 40 reports of
malaria annually during recent years.
Cases are associated with travel
to endemic areas as malaria exposure rarely occurs in the
United States. Reported
cases in Washington have occurred among tourists, business
travelers, mission workers, immigrants and refugees.
Purpose of Reporting and
Surveillance
- To contribute adequate case
reports to the national database, which in turn gives a
better sense of the characteristics of and risk factors for
malaria in residents of the United States.
- To ensure adequate
treatment of cases, particularly those with potentially
fatal falciparum malaria.
- To identify other persons
exposed who may benefit from screening or treatment, e.g.,
fellow travelers or recipients of blood products.
- To identify persons exposed
locally and initiate appropriate follow-up.
Legal Reporting Requirements
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Health care providers:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 3 work
days.
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Hospitals: notifiable to local
health jurisdiction within 3 work days.
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Laboratories:
no requirements for reporting but specimen submission is
recommended.
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Local Health
Jurisdiction: notifiable to the Washington State
Department of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease
Epidemiology Section (CDES) within seven days of case
investigation completion or summary information required
within 21 days.
Last
update
April 2008 |
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