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Summary In 2006, after 44 years of eradication of malaria, Jamaica had an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum: 406 confirmed cases between September 2006 and December 2009 with a peak of the epidemic in December 2006. In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health launched an emergency response through early detection and prompt treatment of cases, vector control, public education and intersectoral collaboration. Ninety percent (361) of cases were residents of Kingston, and 63.6% were identified through house to house surveillance visits. For 56% of the confirmed cases, treatment with chloroquine was initiated within a week of onset of symptoms. Only one (0.3%) of 358 cases who had a post-treatment smear on day 7 had a persistent asexual parasitaemia, while none of the 149 persons who had a follow-up smear on day 28 was positive. The outbreak highlighted the need for increased institutional capacity for surveillance, confirmation and treatment of malaria as well as effective prevention and control of outbreaks which can occur after elimination. Jamaica appears to have successfully eliminated malaria after its reintroduction. En 2006, 44 ans apres l’eradication de la malaria, la Jamaique a connu une epidemie de malaria aPlasmodium falciparum: 406 cas confirmes entre septembre 2006 et decembre 2009 avec un pic de l’epidemie en decembre 2006. En reponse a l’epidemie, le Ministere de la Sante a lance une action d’urgence par la detection precoce et le traitement rapide des cas, la lutte contre le vecteur, l’education publique et la collaboration intersectorielle. 90% (361) des cas etaient des residents de Kingston et 63,6% ont ete identifies a travers des visites de surveillance de maison a maison. Pour 56% des cas confirmes, le traitement a la chloroquine a ete initie dans la semaine suivant l’apparition des symptomes. Seul un (0,3%) des 358 cas pour lesquels un frottis a ete effectue 7 jours post-traitement avait une persistante parasitemie asexuee, tandis qu’aucune des 149 personnes qui ont eu un frottis de suivi a 28 jours n’a ete positive. L’epidemie a souligne la necessite d’une capacite institutionnelle accrue pour la surveillance, la confirmation et le traitement de la malaria ainsi que la prevention et le controle efficaces des epidemies qui peuvent survenir apres l’elimination. La Jamaique semble avoir reussi aeliminer la malaria apres sa reintroduction. En el 2006, tras 44 anos de la erradicacion de la malaria, Jamaica sufrio un brote de Plasmodium falciparum: 406 casos confirmados entre Septiembre 2006 y Diciembre 2009, con el pico de la epidemia en Diembre del 2006. Como respuesta al brote, el Ministerio de Salud lanzo un plan de emergencia con una deteccion temprana y un rapido tratamiento de los casos, control vectorial, educacion publica y colaboracion intersectorial. Un 90% (361) de los casos eran residentes de Kingston y 63·6% fueron identificados mediante visitas realizadas casa por casa. Para un 56% de los casos confirmados, se inicio tratamiento con cloroquina dentro de la semana siguiente a la aparicion de los sintomas. Solo uno (0·3%) de los 358 casos que tenian una lamina post-tratamiento en el dia 7 tenian una parasitemia asexual persistente, mientras que ninguna de las 149 personas que tenian una lamina de seguimiento del dia 28 era positiva. El brote epidemico enfatizo la necesidad de una mayor capacidad institucional para realizar una vigilancia, confirmacion y tratamiento de la malaria, asi como una prevencion efectiva y el control de brotes epidemicos que pueden ocurrir despues de la eliminacion. Jamaica parece haber eliminado la malaria con exito tras su reintroduccion.

In 2006, after 44 years of eradication of malaria, Jamaica had an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum: 406 confirmed cases between September 2006 and December 2009 with a peak of the epidemic in December 2006. In response to the outbreak, the Ministry of Health launched an emergency response through early detection and prompt treatment of cases, vector control, public education and intersectoral collaboration. Ninety percent (361) of cases were residents of Kingston, and 63.6% were identified through house to house surveillance visits. For 56% of the confirmed cases, treatment with chloroquine was initiated within a week of onset of symptoms. Only one (0.3%) of 358 cases who had a post-treatment smear on day 7 had a persistent asexual parasitaemia, while none of the 149 persons who had a follow-up smear on day 28 was positive. The outbreak highlighted the need for increased institutional capacity for surveillance, confirmation and treatment of malaria as well as effective prevention and control of outbreaks which can occur after elimination. Jamaica appears to have successfully eliminated malaria after its reintroduction.