ABSTRACT
Malaria is an enormous global public health problem resulting in nearly
500 million febrile episodes per year and approximately 1 million deaths
annually worldwide (1-3). There have been increasing number of cases of
complicated and fatal malaria around the world, especially in developing nations. Poor primary health care, failure of mosquito eradication pro-
grams, and emerging drug resistance in endemic areas has all contributed
to its morbidity and mortality. Increased global travel, migration, and poor
compliance of prescribed chemoprophylaxis have also contributed to the
magnitude of the disease in nonendemic areas (4-6). Nearly 1500 cases of
malaria are reported each year in the United States; approximately 60% are among U.S. travelers. It is estimated that one of every 100 U.S. travelers
with malaria diagnosed and reported to National Malaria Surveillance System dies and P. falciparum is responsible for nearly all deaths (7).
