The epidemiology of imported malaria and transfusion policy in five non-endemic countries

Addressing risk of imported malaria is complicated by five 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 five countries with different policies involving either deferral (the USA 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