Malaria
Travelling abroad? Don’t let malaria ruin your trip
Protect yourself from malaria before you travel. Get advice and take antimalarial tablets.
Malaria is a serious infection spread by mosquitoes in many countries outside the UK. It can be life-threatening if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Each year, LGT treats around 115 cases of malaria, approximately 8% of all UK cases. Almost all of these infections could have been prevented. The Fight the Bite campaign aims to increase uptake of pre-travel health advice and antimalarial medication among travellers in Greenwich, Bexley and Lewisham, particularly those visiting friends and relatives in countries where malaria is common.
TeamLGT travel safe checklist
✓ Check if your destination has a malaria risk
✓ Get travel health advice
✓ Take antimalarial tablets
✓ Protect yourself from mosquito bites
✓ Seek urgent medical advice if you develop a fever during or after travel
Before you travel
If you are travelling to a country where malaria is present:
- Check the malaria risk for your destination: NaTHNaC - Country List
- Seek pre-travel health advice ideally at least 4 to 6 weeks before you go
- Get antimalarial medication from your GP, travel clinic or pharmacy (including on-line pharmacies).
- Take medication exactly as prescribed, before, during and after your trip
- Use insect repellent containing DEET
- Wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers, especially in the evening and at night
- Sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets where appropriate
Antimalarial tablets are very effective and can cost as little as £20 to £30 for an 8-week trip.
Even if you are travelling at short notice, it is still important to get advice and anti-malarial tablets if travelling to an area with malaria.
Symptoms of malaria
Symptoms can develop during travel or after you return.
Common symptoms
- High temperature (fever)
- Flu like illness
- Chills or sweating
- Headache
- Muscle and joint pain
- Cough
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Extreme tiredness
Severe symptoms
- Confusion
- Breathing difficulties
⚠️ If you become unwell
A fever or feeling unwell after visiting a malaria-risk country is a medical emergency until malaria has been ruled out.
If you feel unwell during or after travel:
- Seek urgent medical advice immediately
- Call NHS 111 for advice or go to your nearest Emergency Department if you are seriously unwell
- Tell healthcare professionals about your recent travel history
- Do not assume your symptoms are caused by a minor illness
- Ask to be tested for malaria
Malaria symptoms can appear up to one year after travel from a malaria-risk area, although they usually develop sooner.
Why malaria matters
- Malaria is a serious and potentially fatal illness
- You can still become unwell from malaria, even if you have had it many times before
- Every trip to a malaria-risk area carries a risk
- Early diagnosis and treatment are essential
Find out more
Find country-specific malaria information and travel health advice from Travel Health Pro.
You can also learn more about malaria symptoms, treatment and prevention from NHS malaria information.
Malaria myth-busters
Cue the cheesy game-show music - it’s time for... Malaria Myth Busters!
Think you know the truth about malaria? Our new Malaria Myth Busters video puts common misconceptions to the test, using a fun game-show format to separate fact from fiction.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/i8xP6y9kImk
Test your knowledge, challenge the myths, and share the video with your colleagues, friends and family to help spread the right message this summer.
Malaria medication
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Myth: Antimalarial tablets give 100% protection.
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Busted: Tablets drastically reduce your risk, but they must be combined with strict bite avoidance. No prevention method is 100% effective.
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Myth: I can get my malaria tablets for free on the NHS.
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Busted: Malaria medication is not free on the NHS. You will typically need to pay for a private prescription or buy them over the counter at a pharmacy.
- Myth: If I haven't been bitten on holiday, I can stop taking my tablets when I return.
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Busted: Malaria can mature in the bloodstream weeks after your trip. You must finish the entire course of medication as prescribed after returning to the UK.
- Myth: If I took medication last year and had no side effects, I will be fine taking the same ones this year.
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Busted: Different destinations require different drugs, and your personal medical history or current medications may require a doctor to switch your prescription.
Bite avoidance and mosquitoes
- Myth: Herbal products (like citronella) and electronic buzzers work well.
- Busted: There is no evidence that herbal remedies, homeopathic products, or electronic buzzers protect against malaria. The only scientifically proven repellent contains DEET.
- Myth: Buying insect repellent abroad is better as it is stronger.
- Busted: It is much safer to buy trusted products (20% to 50% DEET) from a pharmacy before you travel so you are protected from the moment you land.
- Myth: Mosquitoes only come out when it’s wet or raining.
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Busted: While they prefer wet seasons, they are active all year round in warm and dry conditions.
Symptoms and risk
- Myth: I grew up in an area with malaria, so my body is permanently immune.
- Busted: Any partial immunity you might have had disappears quickly after you live in the UK for a few years. Returning travellers are highly vulnerable.
- Myth: Malaria symptoms start immediately.
- Busted: Symptoms can take from 7 days to over a year to develop after an infected bite.
- Myth: It is just a bad flu that will go away on its own.
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Busted: Malaria can progress to coma and death within hours without prompt medical treatment. Always seek urgent medical help if you develop a fever or flu-like symptoms up to a year after traveling to a risk area.