Investigation and Response to a Locally Acquired Case of Plasmodium Falciparum Malaria – Pierce County, Washington, 2025
- Presentation Day/Time: Wednesday, April 22, 9:45 AM
- Presenter: Julia Bennett, PhD, MSPH, Washington State Department of Health
The Issue
- In July 2025, a woman in Pierce County, Washington presented to an emergency room with fever, neck stiffness, chills, and photophobia, and was diagnosed cerebral malaria two days later.
What We Did
- We investigated to determine potential exposures and prevent additional cases.
What We Found
- The patient reported no bloodborne exposures, history of malaria, nor ill contacts, and had not recently traveled to malaria-endemic regions. Thirteen collected mosquitoes tested negative for the parasite that causes malaria, and although three travel-associated malaria cases within Pierce County were reported, none were genetically related to each other or to the woman's case and syndromic surveillance did not identify additional cases.
What This Means
- This case represents the first documentation of locally acquired malaria in Washington and highlights the importance of robust lab processes to allow for prompt diagnosis, treatment, and timely public health response.
