Since 2015, the World Health Organisation (WHO), aiming at elimination of malaria, has recommended systematic treatment by administration of a single dose of primaquine to all patients suffering from Plasmodium falciparum malaria, alongside artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). The High Council for Public Health (HCPH) has recommended this strategy in French Guiana and now recommends that it also be applied to Mayotte.

It recommends prescription of primaquine at a dosage of 0.25 mg per kg, adapted to the weight of children over one year old or over 10 kg.

The prescription of single-dose Primaquine requires:

• prior screening for anaemia where possible, with deferred use when haemoglobin rates are below 8 g/dL;
• a specialist opinion for postponement of a prescription when the patient has a known G6PD deficiency;
• systematic provision of information to patients regarding the risk of haemolytic anaemia, its symptoms, and the importance of monitoring;
• proposal of follow-up n appointments.

It recalls the importance of maintaining vector control measures for the fight against malaria in Mayotte and highlights the importance of a study on the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in the Mahoran population.