Press Releases

December 2007

UK travellers urged to continue to take precautions to protect themselves from malaria

In the wake of a study carried out by Edinburgh University, UK travel health experts are urging UK travellers to continue to take necessary health precautions when travelling abroad to malarious destinations. The research has shown that, in a native West-African population, blood group O seems to offer some protection against severe complications from the most lethal form of malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum. With blood group O also being the commonest blood group in the UK population, UK Travel Health experts emphasise that this does not justify complacency about the need for antimalarial use in British travellers.

Professor Larry Goodyer, Head of the Leicester School of Pharmacy, says: 'Although this is important information in the search for a vaccine and medicines to treat malaria, it does not imply that travellers with blood group O need to take any less precautions against malaria than travellers with other blood groups.'

There is a significant risk of Britons catching malaria whilst travelling abroad. Recent figures from The Health Protection Agency show that in 2006, 1,758 travellers returned to the UK with malaria, and of these, eight people died.

The Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has seen a sharp increase in cheap, last-minute holiday deals to malarious destinations such as the Gambia and Kenya over the last few years. As a result, more and more people are travelling further afield with the number of British people visiting countries affected by malaria rising by 150 per cent in the last 10 years to 4.7 million a year.

Dr George Kassianos a GP from Berkshire says: 'No matter what our blood group or colour is we are all susceptible' to malaria infection. 'All travellers should take every precaution to avoid mosquito bites and also take the medication appropriate for the malarious area they are visiting. They must always seek pre-travel health advice from their GP or travel health clinic.'

For further information and to view case studies of British travellers who have contracted malaria visit www.malariahotspots.co.uk or text 07800 000 571 with your destination country to find out immediately if you are traveling to a malaria hotspot.

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