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Malaria
Transmitted by the female anopheles mosquito, Malaria is a common, potentially fatal parasitic disease that is present in approximately 100 countries - mainly in Africa, South America, Asia and the Pacific. There are five strains of Malaria that can infect humans (the most severe is caused by Plasmodium falciparum) and transmission occurs mainly between sunset and sunrise. There is no vaccine; only preventative anti-malaria drugs and mosquito bite avoidance.
Malaria remains a major problem in the world’s tropical regions. Each year, as many as 250 million new cases occur world-wide and more than 800,000 people die from malaria. Thousands of cases are recorded among travellers.
Malaria checklist
When considering the risks of malaria it’s important to:
- Know the malaria-infected areas of any countries to be visited.
- Be familiar with all the insect bite-avoidance measures available - and practice them.
- Seek medical advice prior to travel regarding anti-malarial (prevention) medication options, including how to take medication so as to maximise its effectiveness and minimise any possible side-effects. For some travellers, malaria treatment medication may be recommended to treat the disease as adequate medical facilities may not always be available.
- Seek medical attention promptly if malaria infection is suspected - even if you have been taking anti-malaria medication.