Update: Malaria Outbreak Resolved in Cape Verde Capital City, Praia

No new cases of malaria have been reported in Praia, the capital city of Cape Verde on Sao Tiago (also known as Santiago) Island since January 4, 2018. A total of 437 locally transmitted cases of malaria were reported in Praia City from January 2017 through January 4, 2018. Prior to this outbreak, and currently, few locally transmitted cases are reported in other parts of Sao Tiago Island.

Public health authorities in Cape Verde continue to do routine malaria surveillance.

CDC no longer recommends antimalarials to prevent malaria for travelers to Praia. Malaria and other diseases are spread by mosquito bites, therefore measures to prevent mosquito bites should be taken. These measures include using insect repellent when outdoors, staying in an air-conditioned or well-screened area, and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net.

See the CDC malaria website for additional health information about malaria including prevention of mosquito bites and drugs for malaria prevention. For general health information for travelers to all areas of the world, see the CDC Travelers’ Health website .