Surveillance and Response to Imported Malaria During the COVID-19 Epidemic — Anhui Province, China, 2019–2021

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC? China was certified malaria-free on June 30, 2021. However, imported malaria continuously threatens the effort to prevent re-establishment of malaria in China. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT? Measures such as international travel restrictions, entry quarantine, and screening in fever clinics during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) period were associated with a significant decrease of imported malaria cases in Anhui Province, a higher proportion of non-Plasmodium falciparum (non-P. falciparum) malaria reported infections, and a higher proportion of cases requiring medical attention at their initial visit. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICES? It is necessary to be vigilant about imported malaria during the COVID-19 epidemic, especially for non-P. falciparum infections which are more difficult to detect, and to promote research, development, and introduction of more sensitive and specific point-of-care detection methods for non-P. falciparum species.