Malaria not a celebrity disease

Wednesday August 11th, 2010

Malaria must not be thought of as a "celebrity" disease in spite of recent high profile cases, UK health officials warned today.

The illness of singer Cheryl Cole has put the disease in the headlines - but a new analysis of UK cases suggests Ms Cole was not a typical case.

The vast majority of British sufferers contract the illness during visits to friends and family - and most of these are of African descent, the department of health said.

Officials say this shows the risks faced by people who routinely travel to affect countries.

Last year some 1,495 arrived in Britain suffering from the disease. Some 81 per cent of the 722 returning to Britain had been visiting relatives. Others were visitors to Britain.

More than 1,000 of those affected travelled from Africa.

Malaria specialist Dr Ron Behrens, of University College London Hospital, said: "Travellers visiting friends and family abroad account for around 80 per cent of malaria cases in the UK.

"This is largely because people do not take medication as they mistakenly believe they are immune to the disease having grown up in an endemic country.

"This is a myth that needs busting; they remain at risk. The message is simple: taking tablets stops the disease, they will protect people against something which at best will involve a course of medication to destroy parasites in the blood and involve a stay in hospital and at worst can kill you."

Travellers have been urged to speak to a doctor well before visiting affected countries. And when overseas they should use insect repellents, use mosquito nets covered with insecticide and keep their arms and legs covered after sunset, according to official advice.

Tags: Africa | Traveller Health | UK News

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