Doctors are warning travellers to take care when travelling to malaria endemic regions and to be prepared. The warnings follow the treatment of 3 UK malaria sufferers in one week who had taken holidays in Western Africa. Each patient had arranged their holiday with the same travel website and received no medical information regarding anti-malarials or other preventative measures before they departed.
Each patient contracted falciparum malaria- the most virulent type of malaria. The UK travel trade association have been informed of the various websites promoting travel in such areas without providing the appropriate medical advice.
There are certain types of malaria tablets that need to be taken a number of weeks before departure so preparation is key. Travellers are being exploited by the agencies and websites and lured into making hasty holiday plans because of attractive last minute deals.
The recommendation is to follow Foreign and Commonwealth Office advice. Malarone and other anti-malarials are available on prescription. Malarone only needs to be taken 1 to 2 days before travelling and for seven days after one has departed from the malaria zone. Malarone is specifically convenient for these last minute trips to high risk areas.