Malaria in the AMERICAS

​  The number of cases of malaria diagnosed in the Americas fell from 2005 to 2014 but over the past few years they have increased mainly because of increased cases in Venezuela because of decreased control activities there over the past 10 years.
   Paraguay and Argentina have been certified malaria free by WHO in the past year and El Salvador has not reported a locally acquired case in almost 3 years. Belize has had no cases and Costa Rica under 100 cases this year. Guatemala and Honduras are reporting significant decreases in malaria cases with Honduras having fewer than 300 cases this year. Most malaria in Brazil is in the Amazon region and cases have decreased this year compared with last year. Haiti, Peru, Suriname and Nicaragua have also had reduced numbers of cases compared with last year.  In Ecuador three provinces - Morona Santiago, Pastaza and Orellana have 84% of the cases with no risk in the Andes or west of them.
  On the other hand, out breaks of malaria are occurring in Colombia with increased cases compared with last year in the departments of Chocó, Nariño, Córdoba, Norte de Santander, Meta, and Cauca. In Dominican Republic there are outbreaks in La Ciénega and Los Tres Brazos, which includes municipalities in the Santo Domingo and San Cristóbal provinces and some neighbourhoods in the National District. In Panama, outbreaks have been reported in four regions: Guna Yala, East Panama, Ngãbe Buglé, and Darién. Finally, thousands of cases are being seen in Venezuela with the states of Amazonas, Bolívar, and Sucre reporting the highest number of cases.
Thus, many travellers visiting Central and South America do not need malaria prophylactic medications. The situation is fluid though as the considerably increased number of cases in Venezuela may spill over into neighbouring countries as people travel across borders sometimes taking malaria with them to receptive areas. Outbreaks can then  occur in areas where eradication has been achieved.