Cheryl Cole highlights malaria risk
News that Cheryl Cole is being treated for malaria after a trip to Tanzania should be a cautionary tale for holidaymakers who may be travelling to high risk areas, such as Africa, Asia, the Middle East and areas of Central and South America.
That’s why leading travel insurance website, insurewithease.com is reminding travellers to check the malaria risk of their holiday destination before they go and make sure they take the necessary anti-malarial medication.
“We are used to jetting off to exotic locations for our holidays. But travellers shouldn’t forget the risk of malaria, which kills over 1 million people every year*,” says Sarah Findlay, Online Marketing Manager, insurewithease.com. “Although a trip to Kenya, Goa or the Dominican Republic may seem fairly commonplace these days, they all carry a risk of malaria. Yet many travellers ignore the threat and head abroad without taking any medication.
“Of course anti-malarial tablets won’t prevent you being bitten by an infected mosquito – as has been highlighted by the Cheryl Cole case. Despite taking tablets she still collapsed with the disease. But they should minimise the symptoms.”
Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advice says that Malaria is a major health problem in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It is spread by the bites of infected mosquitoes. Some forms can be fatal, whilst others produce a high fever and may lead to kidney, liver, brain and blood complications.
Findlay adds, “We urge holidaymakers to check with the FCO to see if their destination requires anti-malaria medication. Talk to your doctor well in advance of the visit, as some medication needs weeks to be effective, and different areas require different medication due to resistance. And never travel to ‘at risk’ areas without consulting a doctor.
“If you do feel sick on returning home, you should contact your doctor and tell them where you have been travelling. When it comes to malaria, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, as it’s a very serious disease that can ruin more than just your holiday.”
INSUREWITHEASE.COM’S MALARIA ADVICE
Before you go:
• Check with your GP surgery to see if you need anti-malaria medication for your destination
• Make sure you mention all regions you are visiting as different strains of malaria are resistant to different medications
• Don’t use old malaria tablets from another trip, as the risks change all the time
• Contact your doctor as soon as you have booked the holiday, as some tablets need to be taken weeks in advance
• Follow the instructions and don’t skip any doses
Precautions:
• Avoid mosquito bites, especially after sunset.
• Wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers or longer skirts
• Use insect repellent containing DEET
• Spray repellents on clothing, as well as exposed skin
• Spray insecticides in your room to help control mosquitoes
• If your room is unscreened or outside, use a mosquito net impregnated with insecticide
*Malaria No More – malarianomore.org.uk
