Severe Malaria Due to Imported Plasmodium ovale: A Case Report From New York

Malaria is highly prevalent in West and Central Africa. In the United States, most reported cases are due to immigration from endemic regions. Severe malaria caused by Plasmodium ovale is rare. This case report details a young, previously healthy male traveler from North Central Africa who presented to the emergency department with septic shock, later diagnosed as P. ovale malaria. This report aims to raise awareness among healthcare workers about the potential for P. ovale to cause severe malaria and to emphasize the importance of prompt diagnosis and treatment.