Imported malaria in Finland, 2001

Thirty-eight cases of malaria were diagnosed in Finland in 2001. Plasmodium falciparum was isolated in 16 cases, P. vivax in 16 cases, and P. ovale in six cases. Twenty-two patients (58%) including all patients with P. falciparum malaria were infected in Africa. Eleven patients were infected in West Africa, six in East Africa and five in central or southern Africa. Eight of the patients with P. vivax malaria were infected in India and Pakistan.