TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan has recorded its highest number of imported malaria cases in nearly two decades, according to a Tuesday (April 8) report from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC, 疾病管制署). Health officials confirmed seven cases have been identified this year, the most since 2007, with one patient now fighting for his life. A Taiwanese man in his 60s who recently traveled through Central and West African countries remains in intensive care, having developed respiratory failure as a complication of severe malaria infection.
Lee Chia-lin (李佳琳), deputy director of the Epidemic Intelligence Center (疫情中心), provided a geographical breakdown of the infections during the briefing. Four cases were evenly split between Sierra Leone and the Solomon Islands, while the remaining three were contracted in Tanzania, Kenya, and unspecified Central African nations. Disease prevention physician Lin Yung-ching (林詠青) detailed the timeline of the critically ill patient, noting he initially experienced fatigue and nausea after returning to Taiwan on March 21. His symptoms intensified significantly over several days, ultimately prompting him to seek emergency medical attention on March 25, when physicians identified severe malaria.
CDC spokesperson Lo Yi-chun (羅一鈞) highlighted the gravity of Africa's ongoing malaria epidemic and warned of substantial risks facing travelers who neglect prophylactic medication before visiting affected regions. The severity of the global situation was underscored by World Health Organization data, which documented an estimated 263 million malaria infections worldwide in 2023, with the African continent bearing the overwhelming burden of 94% of cases and 95% of associated fatalities. Taiwan's historical data reveals 194 confirmed malaria cases between 2007 and 2025, with every infection acquired abroad — primarily in African nations — and Plasmodium falciparum identified as the dominant infectious agent.
