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Living > Public Health, Safety

Malaria

Before departure, you should learn about the health conditions in the country or countries you plan to visit, your own risk of disease and the steps you can take to prevent illness by visiting a travel health clinic or a physician.

Be Informed About Your Risk

Malaria is the most common disease spread by insects in many parts of the world. It is caused by a parasite that enters your blood stream through the bite of a mosquito and can cause serious illness and even death in any unprotected traveller. In addition to insect precautions, there are a number of different preventative drugs available for malaria that must be taken before, during and after travel. However, it is extremely important to seek the proper medical advice on malaria medication. Malaria is constantly changing, from the countries it infects to the drugs that prevent you from catching it, so be sure to seek up-to-date medical information.

Symptoms

  • Malaria infection causes chills, fever, headache and muscle pains.
  • The period between mosquito bite and onset of illness is usually 7 to 21 days.
  • Malaria can however develop weeks or months after leaving a malaria zone.
  • Seek immediate medical treatment if symptoms of malaria occur.

Take Prevention and Avoid Mosquito Bites:

Mosquito
  • Reduce outdoor activity between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
  • Wear light coloured, tightly woven clothing that covers your arms and legs in the evening; tuck shirt into pants and wear boots, not sandals.
  • Apply mosquito repellent containing DEET to exposed skin. Apply repellent with 10% or less DEET no more than once per day for children 6 months - 2 years; 10% or less DEET no more than three times per day for children 2-12 years; and 30% DEET for individuals older than 12 years. Wash off daily with soap and water.
  • Eliminate mosquitoes from your living/sleeping quarters by using screens or an aerosol insecticide.
  • Screen your bed with a nylon mosquito net tucked under edges of mattress (preferably one impregnated with permethrin).

Permethrin, a new mosquito toxicant, can be purchased as a solution or in aerosol form. The colourless, odourless, tasteless chemical is non-toxic to humans but assists in the prevention of malaria by killing the mosquitoes as they try to bite you. Clothing and mosquito netting can be soaked prior to going outdoors. It is not a mosquito repellant. Currently, Permethrin is available only in the U.S. or overseas.

Antimalarial Medications:

These are usually started one to two weeks prior to travel to a malarial area to ensure adequate blood levels of the drug; and to enable the traveller to switch to another drug if side effects occur. Take tablets on the same day each week or, in the case of tablets to be taken daily, at the same time each day.

Common antimalarial medications are Chloroquine (Aralenâ„¢), Mefloquine (Lariam), Doxycycline (vibramycin), and Malarone (Atovaquone/Proguanil).

This information is intended to provide general health-related information about malaria. It is not intended to replace medical consultation at a travel health clinic or by your physician.

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