Malaria

Malaria

A Plasmodium from the saliva of a

female mosquito moving across a
mosquito cell

Fast facts on malaria

Here are some key points on malaria.
More detail and supporting
information is in the main article.
 Malaria was first identified in 1880
as a disease caused by parasitic
infection1
 The name of the disease comes
from the Italian word mal'aria,
meaning "bad air"
 Malaria is transmitted to humans
through bites by infected
mosquitoes
 The most common time for these
mosquitoes to be active is between
dusk and dawn
 Worldwide, there were an
estimated 198 million cases of
malaria in 2013 and 584,000 deaths
 Malaria occurs mostly in poor,
tropical and subtropical areas of
the world
 Malaria was eliminated from the US
in the early 1950s, but the
mosquitos that carry and transmit
the malaria parasite still remain,
creating a constant risk of
reintroduction
 Reported malaria cases in the US
reached a 40-year high of 1,925 in
2011
 A malaria vaccine for humans is
close to being approved for use in
Europe
 An estimated 3.4 billion people in
106 countries and territories are at
risk of malaria - nearly half of the
world's population10
 Annual funding for malaria control
in 2013 was three times the amount
spent in 2005, yet it represented
only 53% of global funding needs2
 Malaria incidence rates are
estimated to have fallen by 30%
globally between 2000 and 2013
while estimated mortality rates fell
by 47%
 The World Health Organization
(WHO) has set out to reduce all
malaria cases and deaths by 90% by
2030.3
 1. Determine your level of risk
Inform yourself about your destination and the risk for
getting malaria. Things you should consider are: The time of
year you are travelling, the duration of your stay, the
activities you plan to do and where you will be staying. The
risk for an infection can vary considerably, even within a
single country. Successful malaria prophylaxis depends on
your knowledge - make sure you are in the know before you
go.

2. Stay in well-screened areas at night

Avoid sleeping outside or in the vicinity of areas where
mosquitoes like to live, e.g. standing water (tyres, lakes,
waste dumps). If you are sleeping in a tent, make sure that
there are no holes anywhere and keep the door closed at all
times. These may be very basic rules, but they can
significantly increase the success of your malaria prevention
effort.

3. Always use a bed-net impregnated with insecticides

Check that the net is not damaged and always ensure it is
properly tucked underneath your mattress. The room itself
should have additional nets attached to the windows and
doors. Keep the air conditioning on, as mosquitoes tend to
stay out of cool, air-conditioned rooms.
 4. Use mosquito repellent
Use an insect spray containing pyrethroids in all living and
sleeping areas, especially during evening and nighttime hours

5. Go for long sleeves

Wear long sleeve shirts and trousers in the evening and at
night. The less skin that is exposed, the better.
Additionally, you can treat your clothes with permethrin in
order to increase your protection.

6. Insect repellent again

Insect repellent creams or lotions should be applied to any
remaining exposed parts of the skin, especially in the
evening and during the night. It is advisable to apply the
repellent during the daytime as well. You never know, a
particular mosquito might decide to bite you in broad
daylight.
 7. Sunscreen comes first - repellent second
If you are using sunscreen, it should be applied first and
the insect repellent second. The repellent will not work if
you cover it with a thick layer of sunscreen. Alternatively,
use a sunscreen that contains a repellent.

8. Check the malaria risks - Get an antimalarial (if

necessary)
Depending on the overall malaria risk at your destination, it
might be necessary to practise malaria prophylaxis, either
on a daily or a weekly basis. Consult with a travel clinic,
healthcare provider or an online doctor service like ours
(www.dred.com) well before your departure to discuss your
specific preventive needs.
Depending on the medication you use, you will have to start
taking the medication up to two weeks before entering the
risk area. In areas of intermediate risk, it might be
sufficient to carry a treatment course with you as a stand-
by medication. You would only start taking the medication if
you experience any flu-like symptoms during your journey.
 9. Follow your prescription carefully
Do not forget to take the anti-malarial every day during
your trip (or as advised) and do not stop taking it too early
after your return. Most medications have to be continued
for 4 weeks after you leave the malaria-affected area.

10. Be on the safe side

If you experience any flu-like symptoms within 6 months
after your return, always inform any doctor treating you
about the journey and the areas you have been to. Although
an infection with malaria usually causes symptoms within 1
or two weeks, it could take a lot longer (months) for the
disease to break out. Even if you have done everything
right, there always remains a small risk of getting malaria.
 What Is Malaria?

1. Malaria is a life-threatening disease that’s typically

transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles
mosquito.

2. Malaria is usually found in tropical and subtropical

climates where the parasites that cause it live.

What Are the Symptoms of Malaria?

The symptoms of malaria typically develop within 10 days to

four weeks following the infection. In some people,
symptoms may not develop for several months. Some
malarial parasites can enter the body but will be dormant
for long periods of time. Common symptoms of malaria
include:

 shaking chills that can range from moderate to severe

 high fever

 profuse sweating

 headache

 nausea

 vomiting

 diarrhea

 anemia