Malaria
Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by one or more of four Plasmodium species. The disease is transmitted between humans by an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Prevention is through avoidance of being bitten and taking antimalarial medication while in areas with malaria present.
Background
 Malaria is a parasitic disease caused by one or more of four Plasmodium species - P. vivax, P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. ovale. Of the four types of malaria, P. falciparum is the most severe and can result in death in up to 10% of cases. The other types of malaria are generally non-fatal unless the patient is very young, very old, is suffering from other illness. The disease is transmitted between humans by an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
Many thousands of tourists become ill with malaria each year either during their travel, or during the incubation period of 7 and 30 days, after they return home from a malarious area. The illness is characterised by malaise, fever, chills, headache, rising temperature, nausea and profuse sweating. These symptoms may cease only to recur within several days.
The incidence and severity of malaria worldwide is increasing and its prevention and treatment is becoming more difficult due to resistance of the parasites to currently available drugs.
Occurrence
Tropical and sub-tropical areas including South & Central America, SE Asia, Asia, the eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific. Particularly high-risk areas are found in South America, SE Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and the Western Pacific islands of Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and the Solomon Islands. Malaria is rarely present in highly urbanised areas of cities, except on the outskirts near rural areas.
Treatment
Primary treatment is the administration of antimalarial drugs. There is no vaccine available for malaria. You should seek medical advice at the first sign of a fever as early treatment is essential in cases of P. falciparum malaria.
Avoidance
The main way to minimise the risk of malaria infection is to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes through the application of measures such as wearing loose fitting long sleeved clothing, applying personal mosquito repellent to exposed areas and living in mosquito proof accommodation or using a mosquito net over your bed. The Anopheles mosquito is mainly active between sunset and sunrise It is also essential to take appropriate antimalarial drugs strictly in accordance with the prescriber's instructions. However, no antimalarial drug regime gives complete protection against the disease.
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