Malaria incidence among a group of jordanian military troops in sierra leone in 2000

Abstract EN

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Mefloquine as a prophylactic treatment against malaria among Jordanian soldiers in Sierra Leone.

Methods: This is a retrospective study of 756 Jordanian soldiers among United Nations troops of Peace keeping forces in Sierra Leone, during a period of eight months extending from April until December 2000.

All soldiers were given Mefloquine as a chemoprophylaxis upon United Nations recommendations in conjunction with Word Health Organization and Centers of Disease Control recommendations.

Other preventive measures such as insect repellents and education were also instituted.

Results: Out of the 756 soldiers of the battalion, only 39 (5.1%) had laboratory confirmed malaria during this period, the patients who were diagnosed were admitted to the hospital with rapid improvement of their symptoms within two days of treatment, and by the seventh day all patients were free of any residual complaint.

Conclusion: Chemoprophylaxis with Mefloquine plus adequate preventive control measures against mosquito bites is not 100% effective to prevent falciparum malaria, but they reduce the incidence of the disease.