The Malaria Awareness Campaign, organised by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health, has brought to the attention of British travellers, the importance of antimalarial medication when visiting at-risk destinations and the risk of buying medication when they are abroad. Purchases could turn out to be fake malaria drugs that put lives at risk. Dr George Kassianos of the Malaria Guidelines Committee said, "With the most deadly strain of malaria on the increase, accounting for nearly 75% of all reported cases in UK travellers, it has never been more important to purchase legitimate medication."
The first line of defence in preventing malaria is to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes. However, this alone is not enough and if antimalarial medication is recommended it must be taken before, during and after travel.
Incredibly, between 1500 and 2000 people per year return to the UK with malaria and on average nine people will die from this preventable disease. It's essential that travellers seek advice six weeks before their departure date and follow the guidance they are given.
Here is a really useful link to
malaria advice for travellers, including interactive maps.
Labels: 2008, health, malaria, travel
