Malaria

Statutory notification

• Malaria is a notifiable infectious disease in Western Australia.
• See notifiable communicable disease case definitions (Word 1.29MB).
• Notifications should be made using the communicable disease notification form for metropolitan residents (PDF 209KB) or regional residents (PDF 208KB).
• For notification of regional residents see contact details of public health units.
• See also description of statutory medical notifications in Western Australia.

Public health management

Important information

• Infectious agent: Protozoan parasites: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale and P. malariae
• Transmission: mosquito-borne.
• Incubation period: Depends on Plasmodium species: range 6 to 40 days.
• Infectious period: No evidence of direct person to person transmission.
• Case exclusion: Do not exclude, but cases should avoid being bitten by mosquitos while symptomatic to reduce the chance of spreading the infection.
• Contact exclusion: Do not exclude.
• Treatment: Anti-malarial treatment as recommended by the doctor.
• Immunisation: None available.
• Case follow-up: is conducted by public health units (Healthy WA).

Notifiable disease data and reports

• Notifiable infectious disease dashboard
• General infectious disease reports