Press Releases

May 2008

Malaria myths put travellers visiting friends and relatives overseas at risk

Thousands of UK residents could be exposing themselves to the potentially deadly disease, malaria, a new survey reveals today.

The survey, released ahead of Malaria Awareness Week (12 – 18 May), found that 50% of people who return to visit friend and family in a malarious country, wrongly believe they have natural immunity to the disease¹.

The research also found that over half of those surveyed value the pre-travel health advice of family and friends over a qualified healthcare professional – a troubling statistic that could be putting many ethnic travellers in danger¹.

Every year, some 2,000 UK travellers2 return from overseas trips with malaria, making Britain one of the largest importers of the disease amongst all industrialised countries3. On average there are nine annual deaths2. Travellers visiting friends and relatives in malarial regions account for 60% of these cases⁴.

Foreign news correspondent and Malaria Awareness Campaign ambassador, Rageh Omaar, says: ‘The common misconception is that if malaria is present in your country of origin, you will have immunity to the disease for life. This is a dangerous myth. The truth is that any natural immunity begins to fade within six months of leaving your home country.’

Omaar continues: ‘The fact that people are choosing to take health advice from family and friends rather than that of a qualified doctor or practice nurse may have created a false sense of security that has been passed down through many generations.’

Dr George Kassianos, GP and founding member of the UK Malaria Guidelines Committee, says: ‘Malaria is not a trivial disease. All travellers visiting friends and family in malarial zones should visit their GP, travel clinic or practice nurse at least six weeks before travelling to get the best advice for them.’

‘Malaria risk destinations change over time so it is essential to speak to a qualified healthcare professional who can tell you exactly what precautions are needed, ahead of every trip,’ he adds.

Malaria Awareness Week runs from 12 – 18 May, 2008. To find out if the country you’re visiting has a malaria risk, text 07800 000 571 or visit www.malariahotspots.co.uk.

Notes to editors:
The Malaria Awareness Campaign is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health and supported by a leading panel of healthcare professionals, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA). The campaign aims to educate UK travellers about the risk of malaria and encourages them to seek expert medical advice before their journey.

Other facts:
In this 2008 omnibus study, commissioned by GlaxoSmithKline, British Indians, Africans, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Caribbean and Chinese (n = 750) were questioned on their attitudes to malaria:

• Nearly half (43%) of those surveyed do not believe there is a malaria risk in their home country
• 40% have never talked to their healthcare professional (GP, practice nurse, pharmacist) about malaria protection before travelling to their home country
• Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (17%) do not take any precautions against malaria when visiting their home country (i.e. insect repellent, mosquito nets or antimalaria tablets)
• Nearly half (44%) of those surveyed do not regularly speak to a healthcare professional to check if travel vaccinations are up to date
• 1/3 (32%) of respondents have never received any vaccinations

References:
¹Malaria Study. Ethnibus. March 2008. (GSK data on file)
² CDR Weekly 26th August 2004, 14 (35)
http://www.hpa.org.uk/cdr/PDFfiles/2004/cdr3504.pdf
³ Muetener P et al. Bulletin of the World Health Organisation 1999; 77(7):560-566
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/bulletin/1999/Vol77-No7/bulletin_1999_77(7)_560-566.pdf
⁴ National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC)
http://www.nathnac.org/travel/news/malaria_080507.htm

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