Malaria prophylaxis

Malaria is a feverish illness that can be very serious or fatal. It is contracted by a bite from a female Anopheles mosquito that is infected with a Plasmodium parasite. Some cases can be very serious or fatal. According to the World Health Organization, there were 212 million cases of malaria and 429,000 malaria-related deaths in 2015.

Symptoms of malaria

The flu-like symptoms of malaria usually appear seven to 18 days after infection and include fever with sweating and shivering, headache, muscle pain and vomiting; however, symptoms can present up to a year later. It can take a long time to recover from malaria and patients commonly relapse.

Always seek medical advice if you get a fever while in (or after being in) an area where malaria is a concern and let the doctor know where you have been. Malaria can be fatal if not treated aggressively.

What regions are considered malarious?

Malaria is widespread in subtropical and tropical areas. Malaria prophylaxis is recommended if you are going to:

• most of Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of North Africa
• South and South East Asia as well as parts of East Asia
• Central and South America
• the Caribbean including Haiti and the Dominican Republic and parts of Mexico.
• parts of the Middle East
• some Pacific Islands

Check your destination in Canadian Travel Clinics’ Destination guides or look at the advice on the Government of Canada’ malaria page.

How can I avoid malaria?

No malaria prophylaxis is completely effective so you when you travel to a malarious area you will have to avoid mosquito bites, particularly those of the night active Anopheles mosquito. Some tactics include:

• using insect repellent that contains DEET
• wearing clothing with good coverage
• sleeping under mosquito nets or in an air-conditioned room or a room with screens

Your travel health nurse can give you detailed advice and may be able to help you source insect repellents and mosquito nets.