Communicable Disease and Health Protection Quarterly Review: October to December 2006

... New practical guidelines on malaria prevention for travellers from the UK were published by the Health Protection Agency in December.1 These update and combine previous 2003 guidance issued in 2003 in a new format available on the web and as a reference manual. Updates include extensively revised advice for travellers to the Indian sub-continent, and increased emphasis on bite prevention. The guidelines also highlight that awareness needs to be raised, among those travelling back to endemic countries to visit friends and relatives. The view that this group is relatively protected is a dangerous myth and their children are particularly vulnerable. The guidelines are for use by healthcare workers (HCWs) who advise travellers, but may also be of use to prospective travellers who wish to read about the options themselves. Together with new Advisory Committee for Malaria Prevention (ACMP) malaria treatment guidelines being published in the Journal of Infection,2 it is hoped that the risk of illness and death from malaria in UK travellers can be reduced. Each year between 1500 and 2000 people are diagnosed with malaria on their return to the UK. Anyone visiting a malarious area can become infected no matter what age or sex or ethnic background. Malaria can kill very quickly if not diagnosed in time. In 2005, there were 11 deaths from malaria in the UK.3 These deaths and illness are, however, avoidable, as most people requiring medical attention for malaria in the UK have not taken the correct precautions needed for their visit.