Malaria: Reporting and Surveillance
Malaria is a category II reportable condition in Wisconsin. Health care providers and laboratories should report to the patient's local public health department:
- Electronically through the Wisconsin Electronic Disease Surveillance System (WEDSS).
- By mail or fax using an Acute and Communicable Disease Case Report, F-44151 (Word).
- By calling the Bureau of Communicable Diseases at 608-267-9003.
Reporting should be completed within 72 hours upon recognition of a case.
For more information, visit the Department of Health Services Disease Reporting page.
Surveillance resources
- Malaria EpiNet, P-01931 (PDF): A malaria infection case reporting and investigation protocol for health professionals.
- CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Malaria Case Report Form (PDF): An infection follow-up form to use to report cases by mail or fax.
Provider resources
Malaria Diagnosis and Treatment in the United States: Information on malaria diagnosis and treatment from CDC.
Wisconsin Malaria Data: Department of Health Services charts with recent case data.
Laboratory criteria for confirmation:
- Detection of malaria parasites in thick or thin peripheral blood films by microscopy.
OR - Detection of species-specific DNA in samples of peripheral blood by PCR.
Note: Detection of circulating malaria-specific antigens using rapid diagnostic test (RDT) is only a screening test and malaria species need to be confirmed by another test.
A fast and accurate diagnosis of malaria is very important to properly treat the patient and prevent further spread of malaria. A patient's clinical signs and symptoms and travel history can help to inform a preliminary diagnosis prior to laboratory confirmation.
For more information on malaria diagnosis, visit the CDC Malaria Diagnosis (United States) page
Treatment should be started as soon as malaria is suspected.
For information and guidelines on treatment, visit the CDC Malaria Treatment (United States) page.
Questions about illnesses spread by mosquitoes? Contact us!
Phone: 608-267-9003 | Fax: 608-261-4976