Malaria is a disease that is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium which infects the red blood cells. The parasite is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. The mosquito generally bites during the night injecting parasites into the bloodstream. Malaria is typically found in tropical regions of the world in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and parts of the Middle East.

Every year, approximately 1,500 travellers in the UK are treated for malaria¹. There are a high number of cases where returning travellers from West Africa are not taking any/the correct malaria tablets. It’s really important that you use every opportunity to encourage the use of malaria prevention tablets where customers are travelling to a high risk country – always refer to the pharmacist in this case. You can also signpost the patient to the fit for travel website to investigate the area they are travelling to.

It is safe to say that malaria is not found in the UK but it can be found in those returning to the UK from the risk areas.

^{[1] www.bupa.co.uk/health-information/travel-health/malaria}