Epidemiology of malaria in Victoria 1999-2000: East Timor emerges as a new source of disease.

Malaria remains a global problem on a huge scale, with approximately 300-500 million cases and up to 3 million deaths annually. 1 In Australia, malaria is uncommon, with approximately 600-900 cases per year notified between 1991 and 1997. Victoria contributes approximately 80-130 notifications per year, making it the third most common State or Territory for malaria cases in Australia after Queensland and New South Wales. 2 Trends across this time period have appeared relatively stable. 2 Cases are imported and most often occur in young male travellers. 2 Deaths are infrequent. 3 Only 2 locally acquired cases of malaria have occurred in Australia since 1962; both in Queensland. 4,5