The Epidemiology of Imported Malaria and Transfusion Policy in 5 Nonendemic Countries

Addressing risk of imported malaria is complicated by 5 human species of Plasmodium, semi-immunity in donors with long-term exposure, increasing travel and immigration, changing risk in endemic areas, and limitations of screening assays. To gain insight into policy formulation, we have compiled epidemiologic data from 5 countries with different policies involving either deferral (the United States and Canada) or selective testing (France, England, and Australia). The greatest risk is from semi-immune former residents of endemic areas, but the greatest impact on sufficiency (donor loss) is from low-risk short-term travel.

Source: Transfusion Medicine Reviews - March 26, 2015 Category: Hematology Authors: Sheila F. O’Brien, Gilles Delage, Clive R. Seed, Josiane Pillonel, Cécile C. Fabra, Katy Davison, Alan Kitchen, Whitney R. Steele, David A. Leiby Source Type: research