Learn more about travel health risks and how to protect yourself while travelling internationally.
To know about diseases Fact sheets about diseases Please visit to: Epidemiology Unit,Sri Lanka
WHAT IS MALARIA?
Malaria is a serious and occasionally fatal disease caused by one of five different parasites in the Plasmodium family. It is spread to humans by the bite of an infected mosquito. If you are a teenager that travels a lot or are in contact with people who travel into the country from overseas, you may be at risk.
WHAT ARE YOUR RISK FACTORS?
Sri Lanka has controlled malaria transmission within the country but we do get imported cases by people travelling to & from Malaria endemic countries.
When you are in a malaria endemic country, Your risk is higher between sunset and sunrise, especially if you participate in outdoor activities during this peak biting period. Travellers staying overnight in rural or remote areas may also be at greater risk.
When you are in a malaria endemic country, Your risk is higher between sunset and sunrise, especially if you participate in outdoor activities during this peak biting period. Travellers staying overnight in rural or remote areas may also be at greater risk.
You can reduce your risk by taking measures to protect yourself from mosquito bites as follows:
1. Wearing garments with long sleeves and long legs/skirts to cover your body
2. Use of mosquito repellent/ cream
3. Avoid going out in the night and dawn (beware about eco –tourism in the middle of jungles)
4. Sleep under a bed net, ideally in a Long lasting insecticide impregnated bed net
5. Taking an appropriate malaria Preventive Drugs
2. Use of mosquito repellent/ cream
3. Avoid going out in the night and dawn (beware about eco –tourism in the middle of jungles)
4. Sleep under a bed net, ideally in a Long lasting insecticide impregnated bed net
5. Taking an appropriate malaria Preventive Drugs
HOW IS MALARIA TRANSMITTED?
- Malaria is spread to humans by the bite of a mosquito infected with malaria parasites.
- The mosquito that spreads malaria is usually active from sunset to sunrise.
- The risk for malaria transmission can be seasonal with an increase of risk during and after rainy seasons.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms can take from one week to several months to occur depending on the type of malaria parasite. In more severe cases, complications may include seizures, coma, kidney and respiratory failure and shock, which may lead to death.
The most common symptoms are as follows:
-
- Fever
- Sweats
- Chills
- Headache
- Abdominal Pain
- Muscle Pain
- Nausea & Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- A general feeling of being unwell
WHERE MALARIA IS COMMONLY FOUND
Malaria transmission is said to occur in the following countries:
| Afghanistan | Dominican Republic | Madagascar | Saudi Arabia |
| Angola | Ecuador | Malawi | Senegal |
| Bangladesh | Equatorial Guinea | Malaysia | Sierra Leone |
| Belize | Eritrea | Mali | Solomon Islands |
| Benin | Ethiopia | Mauritania | Somalia |
| Bhutan | French Guiana | Mayotte | South Africa |
| Bolivia | Gabon | Mozambique | Sudan |
| Botswana | Gambia | Myanmar | Swaziland |
| Brazil | Ghana | Mexico | Suriname |
| Burkina Faso | Guatemala | Namibia | Thailand |
| Burundi | Guinea | Niger | Timor Leste |
| Cambodia | Guinea- Bissau | Nigeria | Togo |
| Cameroon | Guyana | Nepal | Tajikistan |
| Central African Rep. | Haiti | Nicaragua | Turkey |
| Chad | Honduras | Pakistan | Uganda |
| China | India | Panama | Tanzania |
| Colombia | Indonesia | Papua New Guinea | Vanuatu |
| Comoros | Iran | Peru | Vietnam |
| Congo | Iraq | Philippines | Venezuela |
| Costa Rica | Kenya | Paraguay | Yemen Socotra Island |
| Cote d’Ivoire | Lao PDR | Rwanda | Zambia |
| Djibouti | Liberia | Sao Tome & Principe | Zimbabwe |
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST MALARIA
If you are planning to travel overseas, especially to any of the countries mentioned above, it is highly recommended that you consult Anti Malaria Campaign, Narahenpita at least 2 weeks before you travel to discuss and determine whether to take preventive anti malarial drugs and if so, which one to take.
If you are at a higher risk for contracting malaria during your stay abroad, then you need to take malaria Preventive drugs one week prior to departure, throughout your stay abroad and 4 weeks after returning to Sri Lanka. And Do not forget to check for Malaria for any fever occurring for 1 year period after coming back.
If you are at a higher risk for contracting malaria during your stay abroad, then you need to take malaria Preventive drugs one week prior to departure, throughout your stay abroad and 4 weeks after returning to Sri Lanka. And Do not forget to check for Malaria for any fever occurring for 1 year period after coming back.
Contact the Anti Malaria Campaign Hotline on 0117626626 or via 011-2588408/011-258408 or visit their website: http://www.malariacampaign.gov.lk/precentation/ContactUs.aspx
Tell your doctor that you have travelled to a region where malaria is present.
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