MALARIA cases in UK holidaymakers are at their highest for 20 years, health chiefs have warned.
An increase in travel to tropical countries where the potentially fatal disease is rife has left British tourists vulnerable to the infection.
New figures from the UK Health Security Agency revealed 2,004 travellers caught the mosquito bug last year- up from 1,369 in 2022.
This is the first time infections brought into England, Wales and Northern Ireland from abroad have been above 2,000 since 2001.
Travellers are being reminded to “plan ahead” and take precautions to avoid being bitten this summer.
“The primary driver for malaria cases in the UK is the number of Brits who travel abroad,” says Professor Francois Balloux, from University College London.
“There was a big drop during the Covid pandemic as people were travelling less, and we are now back to pre-pandemic levels of travel, or even above.”
Malaria kills hundreds of thousands of people globally every year, with 619,000 deaths recorded in 2021.
The parasitic disease, found in Africa, Asia and South and Central America, is not contagious and can be prevented.
‘PRIORITISE YOUR HEALTH’
Doctor Philip Veal, from UKHSA, warned Brits travelling abroad to be aware of the risks and to avoid critters by using repellent, covering skin, and sleeping under a treated net.
“Even if you have visited or lived in a country before, you will not have the same protection against infections as local people and are still at risk,” he added.
The primary driver for malaria cases in the UK is the number of Brits who travel abroad
Professor Francois Balloux
Doctor Dipti Patel from the National Travel Health Network and Centre urged holidaygoers to make sure they have the necessary vaccinations, repellants and medications.
“If you are making plans to travel abroad this year, please take a moment to prioritise your health and plan ahead.
“Check the relevant country information pages on our website, TravelHealthPro.”
The Travel Health Pro website, which is supported by the UKHSA, provides information on health risks in countries across the world.
There was a big drop during the Covid pandemic as people were travelling less, and we are now back to pre-pandemic levels of travel, or even above
Professor Francois Balloux
It recommends travellers should consult a GP, nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic four to six weeks before their trip for advice on vaccinations.
Early warning signs of the disease include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and nausea.
Without treatment, these can process into organ failure, which can be fatal.
ON THE RISE
Officials are also blaming the increase in cases on the resurgence of malaria in many countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates there were 249 million malaria cases in 2022 – surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 16 million in 2019.
The NHS tells holidaymakers to check for malaria before travelling and says you may be prescribed preventative antimalarial tablets that you should start taking a few days before you go.
Malaria Fact Sheet: Locations & Symptoms
Malaria is caused by being bitten by an infected mosquito
The infection is very common in certain parts of the world.
It’s found in tropical regions, including:
- Large areas of Africa and Asia
- Central and South America
- Dominican Republic and Haiti
- Parts of the Middle East
- Some Pacific islands
Malaria is not found in the UK and you cannot catch it from another person.
Symptoms of malaria
Malaria can be hard to spot, but symptoms include:
- A high temperature, sweats and chills
- Headaches and feeling confused
- Feeling very tired and sleepy (especially in children)
- Feeling and being sick, tummy pain and diarrhoea
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pains
- Yellow skin or whites of the eyes
- A sore throat, cough and difficulty breathing
These symptoms usually appear between 7 and 18 days after you’ve been bitten by an infected mosquito.
But sometimes you may not have symptoms for months after travel, and rarely years.
Source: NHS