Update: Malaria, U.S. Armed Forces, 2016.

Malaria infection remains an important health threat to U.S. service members who are located in endemic areas because of long-term duty assignments, participation in shorter-term contingency operations, or personal travel. In 2016, 57 service members were diagnosed with or reported to have malaria, which is the highest number of cases since 2011 (n=124). The relatively low numbers of cases during 2012-2016 mainly reflect decreases in cases acquired in Afghanistan, a reduction due largely to the progressive withdrawal of U.S. forces from that country. The percentage of cases of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax (26.3%; n=15) in 2016 was the highest since 2012. The percentages of cases caused by P. falciparum (45.6%; n=26), by P. malariae and P. ovale (3.5%, n=2), and by unspecified agents (24.6%; n=14) remained similar to those of the preceding 4 years. Malaria was diagnosed at or reported from 25 different medical facilities in the U.S., Afghanistan, Germany, Korea, Djibouti, and Oman. Providers of medical care to military members should be knowledgeable of, and vigilant for, clinical manifestations of malaria outside of endemic areas.