Malaria in British military personnel deployed to Sierra Leone: a case series

J R Army Med Corps. 2017 Feb;163(1):65-67. doi: 10.1136/jramc-2016-000627. Epub 2016 Jun 27.

Abstract

From December 2014 to April 2015, seven cases of malaria were seen in 1530 military personnel deployed to Sierra Leone on Operation GRITROCK in response to the West African Ebola outbreak, despite predeployment briefings, prescription of chemoprophylactic agents and bite prevention measures. The cases have prompted discussion regarding the efficacy of current measures and how to prevent future cases in deployed military personnel or more widely, those working in malaria-risk environments. All of the cases have made a full recovery and returned to work. We discuss what can be learnt concerning the choice of chemoprophylactic agent and whether anything further be added to standard operating procedures regarding bite prevention and treatment of cases.

Keywords: PREVENTIVE MEDICINE; PUBLIC HEALTH.

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use
  • Atovaquone / therapeutic use
  • Cohort Studies
  • Doxycycline / therapeutic use
  • Drug Combinations
  • Humans
  • Malaria / diagnosis*
  • Malaria / therapy*
  • Mefloquine / therapeutic use
  • Military Personnel*
  • Proguanil / therapeutic use
  • Sierra Leone
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United Kingdom

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Drug Combinations
  • atovaquone, proguanil drug combination
  • Doxycycline
  • Proguanil
  • Mefloquine
  • Atovaquone