MALARIA, the silent killer…A simple guide for travellers

-what is malaria?
Malaria is a very serious disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Four species of the parasites produce the disease -which is transmitted by the female anopheline mosquito. The most dangerous is P. falciparum. If untreated it can lead to fatal cerebral malaria.

-what is the symptoms?
Flulike symptoms: headaches, muscle aches, confusion, dizziness, vomiting (lasting several hours), s-weating, tiredness, but most of all, fever. Anemia and jaundice can occur.
Symptoms generally occur from 7 days to a fe-w -weeks after being bitten, ho-wever may not occur for up to one year.

Ho-w is it prevented?
The follo-wing drugs should be taken before embarking on a trip to a country -where malaria is prevalent:
Atovaquone/proguanil
Doxycycline
Mefloquine
Primaquine (in special circumstances)
Visit your doctor and nurses or health clinic several -weeks before travelling as these drugs need to be administered in advance.
A good insect repellent should also be applied to exposed skin -whilst abroad; preferably one containing DEET (N.N diethyl metatoulamide) -which is the only ingredient guaranteed to -work and is long lasting. There is other repellents on the market for those not -wishing to use DEET, but they need to be applied frequently.

-what countries is at risk?

Afghanistan. Angola, Brazil, Benin, Burkino, Cambodia, Camaroon, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Comoros, Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Ne-w Guinea, Eritrea, Faso Burindi, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Bissau, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mala-wi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Principe, R-wanda, Sao Tome, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Sri Lanka, S-waziland, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Uganda, Vietnam, Zaire, Zambia.

BE SAFE!