TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Taiwanese woman is recovering from malaria after contracting the infection in Rwanda, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Thursday.
The woman in her twenties had not taken anti-malaria medicine before her November trip, per CNA. She was diagnosed with a severe case of malaria in the United Arab Emirates on Nov. 20 and treated in Dubai.
The woman was allowed to return to Taiwan on Nov. 30, but on Dec. 21, she went to the doctor with symptoms including a fever, chills, and pain in her bones and muscles. She was diagnosed with tropical malaria, and her condition has stabilized, allowing her to recover at home.
The CDC recorded nine cases of malaria from January to Dec. 24, compared to between two and seven cases during the same period over the previous five years. This year’s figure was higher due to the resumption of international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.
All cases this year were imported, mostly from African countries, but also one from India and one from Myanmar. The CDC advised travelers to consult a doctor at least one month before a trip to affected areas and to take medicine before, during, and after the voyage.