Risk assessment: Autochthonous Plasmodium vivax malaria in Greece

Greece reports six cases of Plasmodium vivax infection in Evrotas, Lakonia, Peloponnese region, and Chalkida in Evoia since June 2011. The main risk related to the current event is to persons living in, visiting and working in the particular area of Evrotas in the district of Lakonia (and potentially Chalkida in Evoia, though more information is needed) in Greece. The local transmission of P. vivax malaria to humans is believed to have occurred here over the last three years and is likely to continue producing annual clusters of human cases. However, the risk for further extension of malaria transmission into the EU related to this event is considered low at present.