Malaria

Malaria is a deadly parasitic infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is important to have a personal malaria prevention plan before travelling to endemic areas.

Despite limited success in developing a reliable malaria vaccine, preventing this potentially fatal disease still mainly relies on:

  • 1. Avoiding mosquito bites,
  • 2. Taking preventive medication, if indicated, and
  • 3. Prompt diagnosis and treatment if any symptoms appear.
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Symptoms

A fever is always present and other symptoms can include shivers, headache, muscle aches, sometimes with diarrhoea and nausea. If there is no improvement in symptoms within 24 hours, see a doctor urgently for a blood test. It’s important to provide details of your travel history to your doctor to assess your risk for malaria. Travellers who experience symptoms in remote, high-risk malaria areas with no immediate access to medical care may use malaria self-treatment medication if it has been provided.

IMPORTANT: Don’t ignore the symptoms of malaria – see a doctor as soon as possible

Prevention

The mosquito which transmits malaria bites between dusk and dawn. It is recommended to wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants when outdoors after sunset.

Use malaria prevention drugs. Several medications are used to kill the malaria parasite before illness develops.