This brief section is only to be used as a guide and a source of information, because it is such a complex and rapidly changing issue, it should be investigated thoroughly and it is a good idea to contact your doctor and a good Travel Health Clinic. Below are a few sources of information
Some of the Telephone numbers below are charged at a premium rate (Approx 60p a minute)

For an up to date Malaria and health itinerary of your trip, Calls last about 4-5 mins and a report is posted to you Information supplied by the Scottish Centre for Infection and Environmental Health
Health Line 09068 44 45 49 calls cost 60p a min

Malaria Health line 0891- 600 350 Recorded information on malaria risks and avoidance

Other sources of information

www.cdc.govwww.masta.orgwww.who.ch

Good Books

The Travellers Health Book

M Haines and S Thorowgood

Healthy Travel - Bugs, Bites & Bowels

Dr Jane Howarth

Healthy Abroad - Lonely Planet

Rob Ryan

Healthy Travel-Africa

Isabelle Young

Travel Health - Rough Guides

Dr Nick Jones

To be considered
To avoid this serious health risk when entering a malaria area precautions must be taken and expert advice should be sort, approximately 500 million cases and one million deaths occur every year, 90% are in Africa.
illness from malaria has become more complicated in recent times due to the rise in resistance to antimalarials like chloroquine, maloprim etc, there are several new drugs on the market which are now being used.

There are several factors to be considered when choosing the type of medication,
The area to be visited,
Your medical condition,
Age,
Pregnancy status, also keep in mind the side effects of some drugs, once you have the right medication take care to follow the instructions and be sure to take the correct dosage.

Prevention
The best prevention is not to get bitten!!!!!!!
You should understand that no single method of prevention can be considered 100% effective, it is best to employ several methods ie The correct medication, Sleeping under treated mosquito nets, reduce the amount of exposed skin, especially after sunset and around dawn, on exposed skin a good repellent will be needed, preferably one that contains DEET (Diethyltoluamide) beware Deet dissolves plastic, be careful around the eyes.
There are several reason why it is possible to contract malaria even though you are taking the malaria pills, as directed.
Resistance to the drug you are taking, not taking the tablets consistently, not being absorbed in the body properly through diarrhoea or vomiting, but if you do get malaria it is likely that it will be less severe.

How it is contracted
The Malaria parasite depends on both humans and Mosquitoes to carry out its deadly cycle of life.

1

Infected Mosquito bites a human

2

Parasite rapidly goes to the liver within 30 minutes

3

The parasite then starts to reproduce in the liver. Some parasites lie dormant in the liver and become activated years after initial infection.