Malaria Overview, Prevention and Symptoms

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by a parasite. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and flu-like illness. Left untreated, they may develop severe complications and die. Each year 350-500 million cases of malaria occur worldwide, and over one million people die, most of them young children in sub-Saharan Africa.

This sometimes fatal disease can be prevented and cured. Bednets, insecticides, and antimalarial drugs are effective tools to fight malaria in areas where it is transmitted. Travelers to a malaria-risk area should avoid mosquito bites and take a preventive antimalarial drug.

Malaria Information for Travelers

Travelers to sub-Saharan Africa have the greatest risk of both getting malaria and dying from their infection. However, all travelers to countries with malaria risk may get this potentially deadly disease.

Malaria is transmitted in:

• large areas of Central and South America
• the island of Hispaniola (includes Haiti and the Dominican Republic)
• Africa
• Asia (including the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the Middle East)
• Eastern Europe
• and the South Pacific

Symptoms of Malaria

Approximately 800 cases of malaria are diagnosed in travelers returning to the United States from malarial areas each year. From 1985-2002, 78 U.S. travelers died from malaria.

People who are traveling to malaria-risk areas can almost always prevent this potentially deadly disease if they correctly take an effective antimalarial drug and follow measures to prevent mosquito bites.

Despite these protective measures, travelers may become infected with malaria. Malaria symptoms can include:

• fever
• chills
• headache
• flu-like symptoms
• muscle aches
• fatigue
• low blood cell counts (anemia)
• yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye (jaundice)

If not promptly treated, infection with Plasmodium falciparum, the most harmful malaria parasite, may cause coma, kidney failure, and death.

When Symptoms Appear, Seek Immediate Medical Attention. Malaria is always a serious disease and may be a deadly illness. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while traveling in a malaria-risk area or after returning home (for up to 1 year) should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician their travel history.

NOTE: In some countries (including those with malaria risk), drugs may be sold that are counterfeit or substandard (not made according to United States standards). Such drugs may not be effective. Purchase your antimalarial drugs before traveling overseas.

Source: CDC