Renewed Malaria Warning to Holidaymakers
20 December 2006
newsIn new malaria guidance published today, the Health Protection Agency is warning travellers, especially those visiting friends and family in countries where the disease is common, about the risks of infection if they do not take the correct preventative malaria treatment before, during and after travelling.
The guidelines highlight that some travellers may think that malaria is a trivial disease or that because they have lived or were born in a malarious area that they have some immunity. However, any immunity they may have acquired is rapidly lost after migration to the UK . The view that this group is relatively protected is a dangerous myth and their children are particularly vulnerable.
Each year between 1500 and 2000 people are diagnosed with malaria on their return to the UK. Anyone visiting a malarious area can become infected no matter what their age, sex or ethnic background. Malaria can kill very quickly if not diagnosed in time. In 2005 there were 11 deaths from malaria in the UK .
Dr Barbara Bannister Chair of the Agency's Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention for UK Travellers said, "This is the time of year when some people may want to book a last minute break for much needed fun and sun. However, travellers should make sure that they experience the world and not malaria; they should put mosquito-repellent and malaria tablets on the check-list with money, passport, and insurance documents."
"Travellers can protect themselves and their family from malaria by taking the recommended medication prior to travelling, during their stay abroad and for a period after returning. In addition, simple measures, such as wearing insect repellent and suitable clothing and sleeping under an insecticide-treated mosquito net (unless in a sprayed and air conditioned bedroom) are also highly effective and add enormously to the benefits of drug protection."
The prevention guidelines cover general issues on the 'ABCD's of malaria prevention ( a wareness of risk,
b ite prevention, c hemoprophylaxis and d iagnosis and treatment) as well as providing advice for special medical needs groups; advice for different types of traveller; frequently asked questions and a listing of information resources. Tables of guidance by country and selected maps are also available. Updates include the latest advice for travellers to the Indian sub-continent and an extended section on bite prevention to emphasise its importance.
The free guidelines are for use by healthcare workers such as GPs, travel health nurses and pharmacists who advise travellers but may also be of use to prospective travellers who wish to read about the options themselves on the Agency's website.
Professor Peter Chiodini, Director of the Agency's Malaria Reference Laboratory concluded: "When planning your trip to countries where there is a risk of malaria, even if it's at the last minute, check that your preventive medication is up-to-date and relevant for the area you are visiting and take it meticulously as advised."
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Notes to Editors:
- For further information please contact the HPA Press Office on 020 8327 6055/6690/7098/7087.
- Malaria is a preventable parasitic disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It is predominantly a disease affecting Africa, South and Central America, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East . The symptoms include a flu-like illness, fever, shaking, headache, muscle aches and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea may also occur. If travellers develop these symptoms whilst abroad or up to one year after returning, they should seek prompt medical advice and tell their doctor they have been in an area where malaria is a hazard.
- Malaria risk is greatest in most of Africa and in particular south of the Sahara, where over 95% of the potentially lethal falciparum malaria seen in the UK is contracted. The appropriate preventative medicines for most of Africa require a doctor's prescription and cannot be bought over the counter at a pharmacy.
- The new guidelines on the prevention of malaria in travellers can be found at: www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/malaria/guidelines.htm
- Further work will be done to extend the maps section and also to provide the advice in more easily accessible formats as well as posting downloadable documents and providing an easy to use laminated ring bound A5 hard copy on request. The website should be checked regularly for subsequent updates and alerts.
- Advice on travel medication and vaccinations is available from NHS Direct on 0845 4647. Information sheets on insect bite avoidance is available on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website http://www.nathnac.org/travel/misc/travellers_mos.htm
- The Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention in UK Travellers (ACMP) was set up in 1998 to formulate guidelines on malaria prevention in the UK . The members base guidance on evidence and expert opinion. Their wide-ranging expertise includes antimalarial drug resistance, the use of antimalarial drugs and other malaria prevention methods (e.g. insect repellents, bed nets) including those for children and travellers with special medical needs, and the behaviour of UK travellers. The ACMP prophylaxis guidelines are intended for UK-based visitors to malaria endemic areas and may not be appropriate for use by those residing in endemic areas.
Last reviewed: 29 December 2008