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Case Report
Fever in the returning traveller: Dual infection with SARS-CoV-2 and Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Submitted: 15 January 2026 | Published: 04 December 2020
About the author(s)
M. A. Parker, Stellenbosch University, South AfricaE. Nell, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Services, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa
A. Mowlana, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
M. S. Moolla, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
S. Karamchand, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
L. Murphy, Eersterivier Hospital, South Africa
T. Lovelock, Eersterivier Hospital, South Africa
K. S. Kalombo, Eersterivier Hospital, South Africa
A. Parker, Stellenbosch University, South Africa
Z. C. Chapanduka, Stellenbosch University and National Health Laboratory Services, Tygerberg Hospital, South Africa
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Background: More than 90% of the global 400 000 annual malaria deaths occur in Africa. The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has resulted in more than 830 000 deaths in its first 10 months.
Case presentation: This case describes a patient who had travelled from Mozambique to Cape Town, presented with a mild febrile illness, and was diagnosed with both COVID-19 and uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection. She responded well to malaria treatment and had an uneventful COVID-19 admission. Her blood smear showed a low malaria parasitaemia and a relatively high gametocyte load.
Conclusion: We postulate that her clinical course and abnormal smear could well be due to reciprocal disease-modifying effects of the infections. The presenting symptoms of COVID-19 may mimic endemic infectious diseases including malaria, tuberculosis, pneumocystis pneumonia and influenza thus there is a need for clinical vigilance to identify and treat such co-infections.
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