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Malaria - What is Malaria?

Malaria is a parasitic infection of the blood. Malaria kills more than a million people each year. The disease is present in 90 countries and infects approximately 1 in 10 of the world's population at sime time in their lives

How can I get Malaria?

You can become infected with Malaria by receiving a bite from a mosquito

Three-quarters of all malaria cases are in sub-Saharan Africa where it is a main cause of death and a major threat to child health.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms are flu-like, diarrhoea and fever.

How is it treated?

You can cut the risk of contracting Malaria by taking anti-malarial drugs before going abroad and whilst in a high risk area try to keep arms and legs covered with clothing in the evening, sleeping under a mosquito net and applying DEET repellent creams.

Death normally only occurs if the disease is not treated early enough

Where are the High Risk areas?

The death rates are high in areas of sub-Saharan Africa, where medical expertise and malarial drugs are limited.

If you return home from holiday or travelling and you think you have symptoms of Malaria then you should consult your doctor's surgery or, in the UK, phone NHS Direct on 0845 4647.