email to a friend

Health advice to follow before, during and after your travels

Health advice for during your travels

During your travels

  • During your travels, there will be an abundance of things to do and see and enjoy, but please remember to follow your health care advice if you are in a malarious country.
  • The first thing to do is to reduce your chances of getting bitten. Follow your healthcare provider's advice and purchase the recommended antimalarial medication, mosquito netting and insect repellent. Insect repellents should ideally contain up to 50% DEET and be applied to any exposed skin, always on top of a sunblock. It can also be sprayed onto cotton clothing for added protection.
  • Keep arms, legs and feet covered and limit outdoor activities when mosquitoes are at their most active, such as between dusk and dawn. Sleeping under a mosquito net impregnated with permethrin should provide you with excellent protection.
  • Have a great time and enjoy yourself but remain malaria aware. People often contract malaria because they start to get complacent during their travels. If you have been prescribed antimalarials, it is very important take them as directed throughout the whole course. Continue bite prevention measures as it only takes one bite to contract malaria.
Jane's advice on protecting yourself from malariaJane's tips in audio format
(MP3 2MB) > download
Jane's advice on protecting yourself from malariaProblems hearing the audio?
read the transcript >


Download this podcast of Jane's advice on staying safe and healthy when travelling

or copy the URL below into your podcast software:

Podcast Help >



Simon's travel guides

Simon Reeve's experiences of travel and malaria

Simon Reeve, author and broadcaster, shares his travel experiences

more >

Been there, been bitten

Nitin Kapoor recalls his experience of malaria

Nitin recalls his experience of malaria
more >

Sponsored by gsk travel health
VCG/WEB/08/34723/1 April 2008