MEG members Simon Hay, Dave Smith and Andy Tatem, along with colleagues, recently published an article in Nature which highlights the significance of malaria importation in a low-endemic setting such as Zanzibar, and the critical need for a robust surveillance system to detect imported malaria cases. By quantifying malaria importation rates, identifying high-risk groups and assessing onwards transmission, malaria control efforts can be effectively targeted and onward transmission of malaria can be controlled and prevented. Being able to appropriately assess these factors will not only help a low transmission setting reach elimination, but will also assist in preventing the re-introduction of malaria once local transmission has been interrupted.