Case Report and Epidemiological Investigation of Healthcare-associated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Transmission in Westchester County, New York—2023 - Scorecard - MDSpire

Case Report and Epidemiological Investigation of Healthcare-associated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Transmission in Westchester County, New York—2023

  • By

  • Jennifer L White

  • Karen Southwick

  • Susan Madison-Antenucci

  • Nicholas P Piedmonte

  • Sujoy Gayen

  • Brooke Clemons

  • Monica Quinn

  • Kelly Barrett

  • P Bryon Backenson

  • Mike Antwi

  • Sally Slavinski

  • Ellen Lee

  • Ada Huang

  • Kevin Smith

  • Elissa Guzzardi

  • Jennifer C Hunter

  • Kimberly L McKinney

  • Kimberly E Mace

  • Alison D Ridpath

  • Seymour Williams

  • Joel L N Barratt

  • David Jacobson

  • Edwin Pierre-Louis

  • Marko Bajic

  • Julia Kelley

  • Peter D McElroy

  • Brian H Raphael

  • Alan Bulbin

  • December 10, 2025

  • 0 min

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Clinical Scorecard: Healthcare-Associated Transmission of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Westchester County, New York—2023

At a Glance

CategoryDetail
ConditionPlasmodium falciparum malaria
Key MechanismsBlood-borne transmission in healthcare setting likely due to infection control lapse; no mosquito-transmitted cases identified
Target PopulationPatients receiving healthcare in hospitals with potential exposure to malaria-infected individuals
Care SettingHospital and healthcare facilities

Key Highlights

  • First locally acquired malaria case in New York State since 2012 identified in 2023 without recent international travel.
  • Epidemiologic and genetic analyses implicated healthcare-associated blood-borne transmission from a hospitalized traveler with confirmed malaria.
  • No additional mosquito-transmitted or healthcare-associated malaria cases identified following investigation.

Guideline-Based Recommendations

Diagnosis

  • Consider malaria diagnosis in febrile patients even without travel history when epidemiologic links exist.
  • Use blood smear examination and PCR testing for confirmation of Plasmodium falciparum infection.

Management

  • Treat confirmed Plasmodium falciparum malaria with atovaquone-proguanil and artesunate as per clinical protocols.

Monitoring & Follow-up

  • Conduct syndromic surveillance and healthcare facility investigations to identify additional cases.
  • Perform mosquito surveillance during vector activity seasons to assess local transmission risk.

Risks

  • Risk of healthcare-associated malaria transmission due to lapses in infection control practices.
  • Potential for local mosquito-borne transmission remains low but requires monitoring.

Patient & Prescribing Data

Adult patient with healthcare-associated Plasmodium falciparum infection without travel history

Prompt treatment with atovaquone-proguanil and artesunate resulted in full recovery and hospital discharge within one week.

Clinical Best Practices

  • Maintain strict infection prevention and control measures in healthcare settings to prevent blood-borne malaria transmission.
  • Promptly investigate suspected locally acquired malaria cases to identify sources and prevent further transmission.
  • Use genetic analysis to support epidemiologic investigations in complex transmission scenarios.

References

Original Source(s)

Case Report and Epidemiological Investigation of Healthcare-associated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Transmission in Westchester County, New York—2023

  • by Jennifer L White, Karen Southwick, Susan Madison-Antenucci, Nicholas P Piedmonte, Sujoy Gayen, Brooke Clemons, Monica Quinn, Kelly Barrett, P Bryon Backenson, Mike Antwi, Sally Slavinski, Ellen Lee, Ada Huang, Kevin Smith, Elissa Guzzardi, Jennifer C Hunter, Kimberly L McKinney, Kimberly E Mace, Alison D Ridpath, Seymour Williams, Joel L N Barratt, David Jacobson, Edwin Pierre-Louis, Marko Bajic, Julia Kelley, Peter D McElroy, Brian H Raphael, Alan Bulbin

  • December 10, 2025

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