STATUS OF IMPORTED MALARIA IN A CONTROL ZONE OF THE UNITED-ARAB-EMIRATES BORDERING AN AREA OF UNSTABLE MALARIA

A concerted malaria eradication programme in the United Arab Emirates has reduced local transmission to only a very few small foci in the co untry. The Al Ain district is now a consolidation zone. However, trans mission across the undemarcated border with Oman continues. Malaria im ported by the large immigrant work force from major disease endemic ar eas remains a large burden. An added threat is the appearance of chlor oquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum principally from Sudan and Paki stan but increasingly amongst Omani cases seen in the hospitals and cl inics in Al Ain. The implications of re-introduction of malaria and th e establishment of chloroquine resistance, particularly for non-immune residents and visitors, are emphasized.