How To Avoid Malaria

How To Avoid Malaria:

How To Avoid Malaria

Information for travelers

Every year, WHO publishes International Travel and Health, a comprehensive and relevant guide to the prevention and treatment of all potentially threatening diseases to travellers. It is intended for health workers and national disease control centres and includes information on the geographical distribution of malaria, epidemiological information on all malaria-endemic countries and all recommended preventive measures. The publication also contains WHO recommendations on mosquito bite protection, information on the possible serious side effects of various malaria medicines and information on antimalarial resistance in different countries.

Malaria all over the world

International traversals may be at risk of contracting malaria in 87 countries around the world, mainly in Africa, Asia and the Americas. People infected with malaria often experience fever, chills and influenza symptoms at first. If left untreated, the disease can lead to serious complications and, in some cases, death. Symptoms of malaria appear after seven or more days. A fever that occurs within three months of possible contact is an emergency medical condition that requires immediate examination.

Malaria is caused by the Plasmodium parasites and is transmitted by Anopleles female mosquitoes biting at night between dusk and dawn. There are five different types of parasites infecting humans: P. falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. Of these, P. falciparum and P. vivax are the most common, and P. falciparum, which has the highest level of complications and mortality, is the most dangerous. This deadly form of malaria represents a serious public health problem in most sub-Saharan African countries.

Certain groups of travellers, especially young children, pregnant women and people with a weakened immune system, are at particular risk of developing a serious form of disease if infected with malaria. In pregnant women, malaria increases the risk of maternal death, miscarriage, stillbirth and low birth weight, as well as the associated risk of newborn death.

Pregnant women should avoid travelling to areas of transmission and parents are not advised to bring infants and young children to areas where R. falciparum is at risk. If travel is unavoidable, it is essential to take effective preventive measures against malaria, even in the case of travel to areas with P. vivax transmission.

Before travelling to malaria-endemic countries or regions, travellers should consult their national disease control centres or other institutions providing guidance to travellers to obtain information on the preventive measures required.