Africa is high risk for malaria: 94% of malaria cases and 95% of malaria deaths occur in Africa

Anyone can get malaria if they visit an area where it is common.

Most of the people who come back to the UK with malaria  are travellers visiting family and friends in Africa, especially West Africa.

WHY ARE PEOPLE OF AFRICAN ORIGIN PARTICULARLY AT RISK OF GETTING MALARIA?

People visiting family and friends in Africa often stay longer and live as part of the local community, which can make them more likely to get malaria and other infections.  

They can easily skip malaria prevention, especially if Africa feels like home. Some people may forget, or run out of time to sort it out if they have to travel in a hurry, or they believe it won’t happen to them. But here’s the thing: malaria doesn’t care how familiar someone is with the place—it can affect anyone. 

The good news is that protecting yourself and your loved ones against malaria isn’t hard. Before your trip to Africa, see your GP, pharmacy, or a travel clinic, ideally 4–6 weeks in advance. They’ll offer personalised advice to prevent malaria based on your destination and health needs.  Even if you have to travel last minute, be aware of the risk of malaria and sort out malaria prevention. 

Knowing about the risk of malaria is the first step to preventing it! Take care of yourself so you can have a safe trip back home.