Malaria advice and travel tips

Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease that affects 2,000 travellers from the UK each year.

It is contracted by being bitten by an infected mosquito and is common over large areas of Africa, South East Asia, South and Central America.

Most cases of the disease can be prevented if
everyone just follows a few simple precautions to protect themselves. The aim of this section is to get
as many people as possible following those precautions.

Check the map below. If any of your destination countries are outlined in red you need to start taking steps towards malaria prevention. Read this section, download the guide, then go and consult your healthcare professional.

IMPORTANT: Always consult your healthcare professional before travelling to a malarious area for advice on prevention.

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Malaria: FAQs

Q: Is malaria a real danger to British travellers?
A: Unfortunately the answer is yes. Travel figures have revealed an increase of nearly 150% in travel to popular malarious destinations such as Africa and India over the past ten years. Every year, approximately 2,000 UK travellers contract malaria and on average there are nine deaths. Even if treated, malaria can be painful and debilitating so it is advisable to protect yourself.

Your healthcare professional will know if you are travelling to an at-risk destination and will be able to offer you advice about preventing the disease.

Q: How can I contract malaria?
A: Malaria is an infectious disease which is transmitted through certain types of mosquitoes. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract malaria. Whilst feeding on your blood, an infected mosquito releases the malaria parasite into your body, which rapidly goes to the liver and reproduces before spreading back into your bloodstream.

Q: Do I really need to bother taking precautions?
A: Yes, malaria is potentially very dangerous and affects thousands of British travellers each year. The good news is that it is preventable by avoiding getting bitten in the first place and by taking antimalarial medication. If you contract malaria in most cases it can be treated if diagnosed quickly enough. If you suffer from 'flu like symptoms having visited a malarious country within the last year, then you should seek immediate medical help from your doctor.

Q: In which countries can I contract malaria? Am I safe if travelling in the dry season?
A: Malaria exists in areas such as Africa, South America, Asia and South East Asia. In some areas mosquitoes may be more active during the wet season, but mosquitoes can bite all year round. You should not assume that by travelling in the 'dry season' you are safe as it only takes one bite by an infected mosquito at any time of the year to contract malaria. Your healthcare professional will be able to tell you if your destination is malarious and give you the right advice and medications.

Q: I have heard that the side-effects of antimalarial medications are unpleasant, even worse than catching malaria. Is this true?
A: Antimalarial medications can cause some side effects, but there are a number of antimalarials available and your healthcare professional will advise you as to which one is right for you. Malaria can put you in hospital for weeks and can be fatal in some cases. It is better to protect yourself against malaria than risk contracting a potentially fatal disease. If you have concerns speak to your healthcare professional.

Q: I have heard that some antimalarial medications are ineffective as malaria has become resistant to them, is this true?
A: In some parts of the world, some of the older drugs may not give full protection. It is best to speak to your healthcare professional who can give you up to date information on all medications and which ones are suitable for you and the countries you are travelling to.

Q: When I have travelled before, other travellers seem to be taking different medication to protect against malaria, why is this?
A: There are a number of different medications and different ones suit different people. What's right for one traveller may not be right for another. Also other travellers may be following a completely different itinerary to you and taking a medication that's suitable for their particular destination. You should always keep to the advice given to you by your healthcare professional who should have taken your travel itinerary and individual health needs into account. Above all, make sure you take the full course of medication and don't be swayed into doing otherwise.

Q: Fellow travellers have told me that I don't need to use antimalarials, I wonder if I should bother?
A: While fellow travellers are a great source of information for where to go, what to see and how to get about in different countries, they are probably not completely up to speed about travel health. It is strongly recommended that you seek expert pre-travel health advice at least eight weeks before you travel to ensure that you are protecting yourself against malaria and other infectious diseases.

Q: I am only travelling to a malarious area for two days throughout my entire trip, is it worth taking antimalarial medication for such a short duration?
A: It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract malaria. Take your travel itinerary to a health care professional at least eight weeks before you travel and explain where you will be travelling to and how long you will be staying. You will be advised whether you need to take antimalarial medication and how long you should take them for. It is important to follow the advice you are given to ensure you are protected against malaria during and after your travels.

Q: I have been given antimalarial medication which I've been told I have to keep taking, even after I get back from my trip. Is this right?
A: All antimalarial medication needs to be taken before, during and after your travels. Taking it as instructed and completing the full course is very important. This is because the malaria parasite can sit in the liver long after you've left the malarious area. It needs to be eradicated by fully completing your course. Failure to do so could be fatal.

Q: I've heard that if I eat garlic this will stop me from being bitten by a mosquito and help prevent malaria. Is this true?
A: There are a lot of myths and inaccurate information about protecting yourself from malaria. There is no scientific evidence that eating garlic, Marmite^® (or any other savoury yeast extract spread), or taking vitamin B will protect you from malaria. There is also no scientific evidence that homeopathic or herbal medications are effective against malaria. Seek advice on how to avoid getting bitten and on antimalarial medication from a healthcare professional before you travel.

Q: My friend is from Africa and he is going home to visit his family for three weeks. He says he doesn't need to take any protection as he was born there and is immune to malaria. Is this true?
A: If people who grow up in a malarious area are fortunate enough to survive childhood they may develop a natural partial immunity to the disease. However, once they have left that malarious area, this immunity begins to fade after about six months. If your friend is returning home then he is potentially at risk of contracting the disease. He is best to take pre-travel advice from a healthcare professional and not to assume he is safe, as it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to catch malaria.

Q: Where can I get advice about malaria?
A: You should book an appointment with your healthcare professional at least eight weeks before your travels. Many local surgeries operate dedicated travel health clinics managed by a specialist travel nurse. It's worth telephoning your surgery to find out if they offer this clinic and on what day of the week you will be able to visit the clinic. Pharmacists will be able to offer you some travel health advice, but they will not be in a position to offer you the full range of antimalarial medications as you may need a prescription for these. The other option is a private travel clinic which can be found in your local directory.

Q: What happens if I do contract malaria?
A: Malaria, though potentially fatal, is treatable if diagnosed quickly. If whilst travelling or within one year of travelling, you develop 'flu like symptoms (such as fever, chills, pain, weakness, muscle aches, vomiting, cough, diarrhoea or abdominal pain) you must urgently seek medical attention and tell your doctor that you have been travelling in a malarious area.

IMPORTANT: Always consult your healthcare professional before travelling to a malarious area for advice on prevention.