OBJECTIVE  To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of imported malaria in Shanglin County—the county-level unit with the highest cumulative number of imported malaria cases nationwide—and to provide a scientific reference for the precise prevention, control and clinical management of imported malaria.

METHODS  Data of imported malaria cases admitted to Shanglin County People's Hospital from 2013 to 2025 were collected and analyzed. The epidemiological characteristics, etiological composition, severe clinical manifestations and therapeutic efficacy were evaluated. Strategies for optimizing the management of severe cases and the analysis of complicated cases were also performed.

RESULTS  From 2013 to 2025, a total of 2 027 cases of severe and non-severe imported malaria were admitted to Shanglin County People's Hospital, including 1 224 cases of Plasmodium falciparum （60.38%）, 142 cases of Plasmodium vivax （7.00%）, 20 cases of Plasmodium malariae （0.99%）, 361 cases of Plasmodium ovale （17.81%）, 29 cases of mixed infections （1.43%） and 251 clinically diagnosed cases （12.38%）. Severe malaria cases accounted for 48 cases （2.37%）, including 5 cases of cerebral malaria. Optimization of antimalarial drugs for severe and cerebral malaria cases contributed to zero malaria-related deaths in Shanglin County for 13 consecutive years. Novel combination regimens for radical cure were explored for relapsing Plasmodium vivax, Plasmodium ovale, CYP2D6-deficient and G6PD-deficient cases, effectively preventing the emergence of second-generation local malaria cases.

CONCLUSION  In managing a large volume of imported malaria cases, the hospital achieved favorable outcomes in the treatment of severe and non-severe malaria and in research on transmission prevention.