title: Infection importation: a key challenge to malaria elimination on Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The impact of importation of falciparum malaria from mainland Equatorial Guinea on malaria infection in non-travellers and travellers on Bioko Island was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Malaria indicator surveys were conducted in 2013 and 2014 to assess the association between malaria infection and travel to the mainland. Infection in non-travellers was compared in neighbourhoods of high travel and neighbourhoods of low travel. Boat passengers leaving from and arriving on the island were tested for infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children who had travelled to the mainland in the previous eight weeks were at greater risk of infection than those who had not travelled (56 vs 26% in 2013; 42 vs 18% in 2014). Children who had not travelled, living in localities with the highest proportion of travellers, were significantly more likely to be infected compared to those in localities with the smallest proportion of travellers (adjusted odds ratios 7.7 (95% CI 2.3-25) and 5.3 (95% CI 2.5-11) in 2013 and 2014, respectively). Infection in arriving boat passengers was substantially higher than in those departing (70 vs 38%, p = 0.017).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria importation by travellers poses a serious public health challenge affecting non-travellers as well as travellers.
authors: MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. john.bradley@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Bradley
authors: Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. felixmonti@gmail.com.
authors: Feliciano
authors: F
authors: Monti
authors: MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. andrea.rehman@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors: Andrea M
authors: AM
authors: Rehman
authors: Medical Care Development International, Silver Spring, MD, USA. cschwabe@mcd.org.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Schwabe
authors: Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. vargasdany@yahoo.es.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Vargas
authors: Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. ggarcia@mcd.org.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Garcia
authors: Medical Care Development International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. dhergott@mcd.org.
authors: Dianna
authors: D
authors: Hergott
authors: Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. riloharivas@yahoo.es.
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: Riloha
authors: MRC Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK. Immo.Kleinschmidt@lshtm.ac.uk.
authors: Immo
authors: I
authors: Kleinschmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D060740:Disease Eradication; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014195:Travel; D055815:Young Adult
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