AFMIC SPECIAL WEEKLY WIRE 33-90(C)

File: 970613_ww33_90c_txt_0001.txt
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SUBJECT: AFMIC SPECIAL WEEKLY WIRE 33-90(C)

1. GENERAL
THIS MESSAGE CONSISTS OF SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, AND GENERAL MEDICAL
INTELLIGENCE. IT IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE A TIMELY SUMMARY OF
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE FINDINGS AND ANALYSES. THE REMARKS ARE
PRELIMINARY AND SUBJECT TO REVISION AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT
AN AGREED DOD POSITION.
2. THIS SPECIAL WIRE IS INTENDED TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION AND FURTHER
DISSEMINATION OF MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE ON A SUBJECT OF CURRENT
INTEREST.
3. JEDDAH: MALARIA UPDATE
AS PREVIOUSLY REPORTED (SEE AFMIC SPECIAL WEEKLY WIRE 32-90(D),
MALARIA TRANSMISSION DOES NOT OCCUR IN JEDDAH OR THE SURROUNDING
URBAN AREAS OF THE WEST COAST OF SAUDI ARABIA. NEW INFORMATION NOW
INDICATES THAT RURAL AREAS ALONG THE WEST COAST, EXCEPT EXTREME
SOUTHERN AREAS IN JIZAN PROVINCE, ALSO ARE FREE OF MALARIA
TRANSMISSION.
COMMENT: THE SAUDI ARABIAN MINISTRY OF HEALTH HAS CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE
VECTOR CONTROL OPERATIONS IN THE WESTERN PROVINCES, AND HAS
INTERRUPTED THE TRANSMISSION OF MALARIA EXCEPT IN THE EXTREME
SOUTHWEST. TRANSMISSION ONLY OCCURS SOUTH OF 18 DEGREES NORTH
LATITUDE (SOUTH OF THE TOWNS OF ABHA AND KHAMIS MUSHAYT), WHICH ARE
LOCATED ABOUT 500 KILOMETERS SOUTH OF JEDDAH. FALCIPARUM MALARIA
PREDOMINATES; HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONFIRMED REPORTS OF
CHLOROQUINE RESISTANT MALARIA IN SAUDI ARABIA DESPITE AN ACTIVE
MONITORING PROGRAM. MALARIA TRANSMISSION IS SEASONAL, PEAKING DURING
THE RAINY SEASON (DECEMBER TO MARCH), AND IS UNCOMMON FROM JULY TO
SEPTEMBER.

CONCLUSION: THERE IS NO RISK OF ACQUIRING MALARIA FOR U.S. SERVICEMEN
IN SAUDI ARABIA EXCEPT FOR THE ISOLATED ENDEMIC FOCUS IN JIZAN
PROVINCE. 
[b.6.]