Taiwan reports rare zoonotic malaria case following Malaysia travel

Taiwan's Centers for Disease Control has confirmed a rare case of Plasmodium knowlesi (zoonotic malaria) in a female in her 50s. The patient contracted the infection while traveling through the tropical rainforests of Malaysia in late July.

This marks the first time a Taiwanese national has been diagnosed with this specific type of malaria since 2005. The patient reported mosquito bites during her trip but did not take preventative medication. After returning to Taiwan, she developed symptoms including fever, chills, abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Following medical treatment, her parasite levels decreased, and she was discharged in early September.

Plasmodium knowlesi is a rare form of malaria primarily found in Southeast Asia, transmitted via mosquitoes from long-tailed or pig-tailed macaques to humans. Health officials warn that if left untreated, the infection can lead to severe complications such as kidney failure, pulmonary edema, shock, or death. As of September 14, Taiwan has recorded six imported malaria cases this year, including infections from Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Nigeria.