All it takes to contract Malaria is one single mosquito bite. The mosquitoes that carry malaria are typically more active at dusk and at night. When an infected mosquito bites, it passes the parasites that cause the illness into the bloodstream. If you are travelling to the following areas we recommend taking precautions against Malaria:
As malaria is spread through the bite of mosquitoes we advise actively taking steps to reduce your risk of being bitten. To reduce your chances of a bite we recommend taking the following practical steps:
For some countries with a high risk of malaria, tablets to prevent malaria (antimalarials) are recommended to travellers. Whether these are appropriate for you will depend on a range of factors.
For the tablets to work at their best, it’s important to start before arrival to a risk area, this means there will be enough antimalarial medication in your system to start preventing infection when you arrive. Book an appointment with our travel team online to discuss antimalarials and find the most appropriate medication for you.
As malaria symptoms can take longer than a year to show, always consult your doctor if you display symptoms following a trip to a high risk area. When you meet your GP include whether or not you took antimalarial medication before your travel.
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