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Greece reports six cases of Plasmodium vivax infection in Evrotas, Lakonia, Peloponnese region, and Chalkida in Evoia since June 2011. The main risk related to the current event is to persons living in, visiting and working in the particular area of Evrotas in the district of Lakonia (and potentially Chalkida in Evoia, though more information is needed) in Greece.

The ECDC risk, as assessed on 23 August 2011, remains unchanged. The main risk is to persons residing in, visiting and working in the affected areas of Greece, particularly Evrotas in Lakonia. The risk for further extension of malaria transmission into the EU as a result of this event is considered low at present. EU national blood competent authorities should be considering whether to implement deferral measures for persons returning from these specific affected areas in Greece, taking into consideration measures currently implemented by the Greek blood safety authorities and after a considered risk assessment in collaboration with their national public health authorities.

The assessment teams reviewed the risks of potential re-establishment of malaria transmission in Greece, and proposed prevention measures in the specific areas concerned and across the country.

In response to the malaria outbreak in Greece in 2011, ECDC organised an expert consultation on Plasmodium vivax transmission in Europe on 17 and 18 January 2012. The overall objective of this consultation was to gain a comprehensive understanding of the malaria transmission potential in Greece and in Europe in order to propose recommendations for actions for preparedness and response at the EU and country levels.

Locally acquired cases of malaria have been occurring in Greece since 2009, with the highest numbers reported in 2011. In 2012, local malaria transmission was still ongoing, but fewer cases were reported.

This issue of the ECDC Communicable Disease Threats Report (CDTR) covers 14-20 August 2016 and includes updates on poliomyelitis, Zika virus, yellow fever, West Nile fever, malaria in Greece, avian influenzas and the Olympic Games in Brazil.