Malaria Imported into the UK

According to the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) 1,370 cases of malaria were reported during 2008 in returned UK travellers, visitors and new entrants to the UK.  Six of these cases were fatal.

809 of the 1,370 were asked about their malaria prevention. 668 (83%) of travellers had not taken malaria prevention tablets. A high proportion of the remainder took tablets that were inappropriate for the destination.

This recent information reinforces the two paragraphs in the main Health section covering malaria.  The main point is to take malaria seriously.  If Malaria is present in the place(s) your plan to visit during your gap year find out which malaria prevention tablet to take and then stick firmly to the recommended dosage and take all the other recommended preventative actions.

Even then it is still possible to contract malaria as Charlotte Edwardes discovered when she returned from a family holiday in Kenya.  She told her story in this article published in The Times on 16 May 2009.  Another story worth reading was published in the Daily Mail on 9 June 2009.  Harry Yirrell (20) died from falciparum malaria three weeks after returning home from volunteering in Ghana.

Useful Link:

NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Malaria