Malaria remains a significant global health concern, with 263 million cases and 597,000 deaths in 2023.
While significant investment has been made into malaria control, cases and deaths continue to remain stubbornly high and, in recent years, have even sometimes grown. While the disease poses the most significant risk to residents and travellers in the tropical and subtropical regions where it is endemic, rising global temperatures and changing weather patterns mean that malaria is almost certain to become more widespread in the coming years.
Malaria is caused by Plasmodium – a parasite transmitted to humans via bites from infected female Anopheles mosquitoes.
Symptoms of malaria can vary and be difficult to spot and identify as being due to malaria but typically include:
If malaria is left untreated, it can quickly develop into a serious illness, leading to organ failure and potentially death. Malaria survivors, particularly children, are often susceptible to a range of long-term adverse health outcomes, including cognitive deficits, speech and language impediments, chronic conditions linked to vital organs, and a weakened immune system.
Understanding how malaria is transmitted and knowing the symptoms to look out for if you’re in a high-risk region – and knowing where those regions are – are the first steps in protecting yourself.
The World Health Organization has an informative map highlighting the regions across Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia where malaria is considered a risk.
Sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, or ITNs, is a highly effective means of preventing mosquito bites. As well as creating a physical barrier, they also kill mosquitoes upon contact.
If you’re living in or travelling through a high-risk region for malaria and using an ITN, be sure to check them regularly for holes and tears and replace them when necessary.
Indoor residual spraying involves applying insecticides to the walls and ceilings of accommodation and kills mosquitoes resting indoors.
While some hotel and apartment complexes will undertake spraying as standard, it is often done via organised community efforts to protect local populations in many locations.
Effective mosquito repellents contain at least one of the following active ingredients:
Whichever you use, ensure you follow the relevant instructions and pay particular attention to applying repellent at dawn and dusk, when Anopheles mosquitoes are most active.
In addition to the repellents you apply, you can also use plug-in products that emit scents that kill mosquitoes or keep them out of your home or hotel room.
Limiting how much skin you have exposed significantly reduces your risk of mosquito bites. Long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, and closed footwear are all essentials, and you'll also be less attractive to mosquitoes if you're wearing lighter colours.
You can also consider treating your clothes with permethrin, an insecticide. Helpfully, if you do this, your treatment should remain effective through multiple washes, too.
Reducing places where mosquitoes thrive, and particularly where they breed, is vital in terms of limiting your exposure and malaria risk.
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, meaning the best course of action you can take is to regularly check, drain, or cover places where water can gather around your home. Think of places like buckets and flowerpots or open water butts that you use to collect rainwater for the garden.
Removing the water or ensuring mosquitoes cannot get to the water can significantly impact how often you see them around your home.
As with indoor residual spraying, these measures are often undertaken as part of community awareness or action campaigns. If you’re relocating permanently to a location where malaria is endemic, ask about local initiatives that you can get involved with to play your part in broader malaria prevention.
Antimalarial medication is an essential prevention tactic if you're planning to visit a high-risk region for work or a holiday. Your doctor may even advise taking antimalarials if travelling to a lower-risk area.
While some antimalarial medications are safe to use for extended periods, including for over a year in some cases, you should consult with a health professional about using antimalarials if you're permanently relocating to a region where malaria is prevalent.
Your medication, prescribed dosage, and how long before, during, and after a trip you must take antimalarials will depend on several factors, including where you're going, how long you're travelling for, and any pre-existing health conditions.
Pregnant women, young children, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to malaria and may require specific preventative measures and medications outside of what a healthcare provider would typically prescribe.
Upon your return from a high-risk region, monitor your health closely, as malaria symptoms may not appear for months after exposure.
Reducing your risk of acquiring malaria involves a combination of personal and sometimes community actions alongside following and using the relevant medical advice and interventions.
By following the seven steps in this guide, you will not only significantly reduce your risk and exposure to malaria but also actively contribute to controlling the disease and keeping others safe.
If you’re relocating to a country where malaria is prevalent, a Now Health International private health plan can help with both prevention and getting you the treatment you need should you develop malaria. Discover our award-winning health plans here.