High prevalence of asymptomatic malaria in Forest Guinea: Results from a rapid community survey

Abstract

Malaria is endemic in Guinea, however, the extent and role in transmission of asymptomatic malaria are not well understood. In May 2023, we conducted a rapid community survey to determine Plasmodium falciparum prevalence among asymptomatic individuals in Middle Guinea (Dalaba) and Forest Guinea (Gueckedou). In Dalaba, 6/240 (2.5%, CI 1.2-4.7%) individuals tested positive for P. falciparum by rapid diagnostic test while in Gueckedou, 147/239 (61.5%, CI 53.6-70.3%) of participants tested positive. Asymptomatic malaria needs to be considered more strongly as a driver for transmission when designing control strategies, especially in Forest Guinea and potentially other hyper-endemic settings.