Holidaymakers Warned Over Danger of Malaria

Holidaymakers have been warned about the dangers of malaria, after recent figures revealed that travellers are still falling prey to the potentially fatal disease.

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) reports that in 2007 there were 1,548 UK travellers who reported having contracted the illness, five of whom died.

Holidaymakers were reminded that they can avoid the life-threatening disease by seeking medical advice before they jet off to exotic locations.

Professor Peter Chiodini, head of the HPA's Malaria Reference Laboratory, said: "It seems likely that travellers visiting friends and relatives are either not seeking or unable to access good medical advice on preventing malaria before they travel, or they don't perceive their risk to be as great as the holidaying public."

He added that there is a "common misconception" that those who were born in countries with malaria problems and are now living in the UK will be immune to the disease when they return home.

The Association of British Travel Agents told the Press Association this week that a growing number of holidaymakers are choosing to take breaks in destinations such as India and south-east Asia, which are more prone to malaria than popular European destinations.

Travel Industry News posted on 12/05/2008 14:02:28