The question remains as to how many measles selleck cases still go misdiagnosed, on clinical basis, as dengue, or febrile rash of some other kind. The authors state they have no conflicts of interest to declare. “
“Background. Spain obtained

the official certificate of malaria eradication in 1964. However, imported malaria cases have been increasing during the last few decades in this country. This study aims to describe the clinical and epidemiological features of patients diagnosed with malaria on Gran Canaria Island. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted based on case review of all patients diagnosed with malaria microbiologically confirmed from 1993 to 2006, at the three referral teaching hospitals on Gran Canaria Island. Results. One hundred eighty-four episodes in 181 patients were diagnosed, 170 of them were analyzed. Most of them (82%) were travelers. Nearly 15% (14.7%) declared having had some chemoprophylaxis, but only half of Selleck LDK378 them completed the treatment. Twenty cases (10.9%) were diagnosed who had just arrived as immigrants,

mainly children. Malaria was acquired in Africa by 94.7% of the cases and Plasmodium falciparum was responsible for the majority of the cases (84.1%). Clinical and epidemiological differences were observed among different groups of patients formed by their origin and travel purposes. At least one indicator of severe malaria was established in 22.9% of the cases. However, global mortality was 3.8%. Conclusions. Malaria in Gran Canaria Island is imported from endemic areas, mainly from African countries, observed mostly among young adult males, but clinical and epidemiological features may change among different groups of patients. The number of immigrants diagnosed with malaria is increasing in this area nowadays. Malaria is still one of the most important public health problems. One hundred eight countries around the world are endemic for malaria, a disease that caused 243 million cases in 2008, mostly in Africa, and was responsible for nearly 863,000 deaths.1 Spain Bcl-w obtained

the official certificate of malaria eradication in 1964. However, the number of malaria cases diagnosed in this country has increased during the last few decades. The majority of the cases are imported from endemic countries,2 and few cases are contracted induced by blood transfusion3 and organ donors,4 sharing of syringes among parenteral drug addicts,5 and acquired at airports.6 Gran Canaria is one of the Canary Islands, located in the Atlantic Ocean (28°08′N, 15°25′W), only 100 nautical miles west from the African coast. Las Palmas Harbor, serving the capital city of the island, is a major maritime hub, which links Europe, Africa, and America through maritime routes. The island’s economy is based on tourism.