A Rare Case of Locally Acquired Malaria in Lebanon: A Public Health Concern

Malaria, a mosquito-borne disease caused by five plasmodium species, still has a life-threatening risk worldwide. Clinical manifestations can range from mild nonspecific symptoms to severe disease. In non-endemic regions, sporadic cases frequently pose significant challenges to health workers as delayed diagnosis can lead to serious consequences and even death. In this study, we report the first documented case of locally transmitted malaria in Lebanon involving a patient with no recent travel history presenting with fever, chills, and headache. The patient was found to have anemia and thrombocytopenia, and a positive malaria antigen test and peripheral smear revealed the presence of banana-shaped gametocytes and intracellular rings confirming the diagnosis of plasmodium falciparum. She was treated successfully with intravenous artesunate, and she fully recovered.