Malaria fatalities in Canada

Although the incidence of drug-resistant malaria is increasing worldwide, it remains both preventable and treatable with appropriate care. Kevin Kain and colleagues report 7 cases in which Canadian travellers or visitors to Canada died of malaria. Features of those cases included nonexistent or inappropriate malaria prophylaxis, delays in seeking medical attention and inadequate care while abroad, and delays in diagnosis upon return to Canada.

Physicians and travellers must educate themselves about malaria risk, prevention, diagnosis and management, ideally with support from the travel industry and airlines. Further research is required, since international travel and globalization can only increase the importation of globally important diseases to Canada.

Malaria deaths in visitors to Canada and in Canadian travellers: a case series � K.C. Kain et al