The Centers for Disease Control (hereafter referred to as CDC) announced today (the 23rd) a new imported malaria case in the country, involving a foreign male in his twenties. He was diagnosed with malaria in Pakistan in 2025, entered Taiwan in late January 2026, and began experiencing fever, vomiting and other symptoms in early June. Because the symptoms did not improve, he sought medical care at a hospital, and laboratory testing confirmed a recurrence of Plasmodium vivax malaria. Health authorities continue to monitor the case's health status and subsequent test results.
CDC monitoring data show that, as of June 22 this year, there have been a total of two imported cases, from Ethiopia and Pakistan, both in their twenties, and both infected with Plasmodium vivax. Statistics for the past ten years (2017‑2026) indicate a cumulative 67 confirmed malaria cases domestically, all imported, with most infections originating from African countries. The detected pathogens were primarily Plasmodium falciparum, followed by Plasmodium vivax. The global malaria situation persists, with nearly 94% of cases worldwide occurring in Africa, especially concentrated in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Ethiopia and Mozambique. Recently, the outbreak in West Mashonaland Province in northern Zimbabwe has risen, with a cumulative 14,730 cases in the province to date this year; the situation in French Mayotte has also increased, with 197 cases reported up to late May, mainly in the southern region. In Asia, Indonesia's outbreak continues, with about 200,000 cases reported so far this year, mainly in the eastern part of the country, especially Papua, Central Papua and South Papua provinces. Pakistan's incidence in 2025 decreased compared with 2024, but still reported about 1.8 million cases.
The CDC states that malaria is a disease transmitted to humans through the bite of Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. Depending on the species of Plasmodium, malaria can be classified as falciparum malaria, vivax malaria, ovale malaria, malariae, or knowlesi malaria; among these, falciparum and vivax malaria are the most common. Most people develop symptoms 7 to 30 days after infection; early symptoms resemble influenza, primarily fever, and may also include headache, muscle aches, joint pain, nausea, vomiting and fatigue. Without appropriate treatment, a few days after onset patients may experience intermittent or cyclical chills and shivering, fever and sweating. Severe cases can lead to splenomegaly, jaundice, shock, liver and kidney failure, pulmonary edema, acute cerebral complications and coma, or even death. Vivax and ovale malaria can remain dormant in the liver for weeks or even years and then relapse, so after treating the blood‑stage parasites, a course of Primaquine tablets must be taken for radical cure to prevent relapse.
The CDC urges that people traveling to malaria‑endemic areas should, at least one month before departure, consult a travel‑medicine clinic in Taiwan, and follow the physician’s instructions to continuously take malaria prophylaxis before, during, and after the trip. While traveling, wear light‑colored long sleeves and long pants, apply government‑approved insect repellent, and try to stay in accommodations with screened doors and windows. After returning, if any suspected symptoms appear, seek medical attention promptly and inform the doctor of travel history and any malaria prophylaxis taken, for diagnostic and treatment reference. For more information, please visit the CDC’s global website (https://www.cdc.gov.tw, or call the toll‑free epidemic prevention hotline 1922 (or 0800‑001922) for inquiries.
Source: Centers for Disease Control
Data compiled: Infection Control Office
