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MALARIA RISK INCREASES AS TRAVEL TRENDS CHANGE

Thousands more travellers are being exposed to the threat of malaria each year as visitor numbers continue to increase to risk areas. Over five million people travelled to high risk malarious areas in 2004, as overseas travel continued to rise to record numbers with a 4% increase on visits abroad by UK residents in the past year to 64.2 million.

New findings have revealed the spread of malaria poses a more substantial risk to travellers to South East Asia than previously estimated with the region contributing 25% of the estimated 500 million worldwide cases each year of the most lethal form of malaria (falciparum). From 2002 to 2004, travel to India increased by 42%. Since 1995, there has been a steady increase in travel to Asia, the Caribbean, and south and central America. Several countries in these regions have become more accessible over the last few years, particularly Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Thailand in Asia.

Research in a European Airport Study revealed that 60% of people failed to seek travel health advice before venturing abroad, with one quarter of those who were visiting a high-risk malaria area unaware of the risk. Each year on average 2,000 UK travellers return from overseas with malaria, highlighting the importance for travellers to protect themselves against this potentially fatal disease.

In March 2005, the Department of Health advised there had been an increase in the number of malaria cases amongst international travellers returning from coastal resorts in the Dominican Republic, including areas that were previously malaria free. It reminded all travellers to the Dominican Republic to comply with the current recommendations for anti-malarial medication and practice insect bite avoidance.

Whilst the standard package holiday is in decline, travel to long haul destinations increased by 1.1 million (20%) between 1999 and 2003, representing a move towards more independently organised travel to tropical destinations.

Keith Betton, Head of Corporate Affairs for ABTA, commented: "Thirty years ago very few people travelled beyond Europe and even a trip to America was a talking point. Now we think nothing of flying to remote parts of Africa or Asia, and frequently we book these holidays only a few weeks before travelling. People need to be aware of how they can protect themselves against malaria so they can travel freely and with confidence".

Dr George Kassianos, GP and member of the UK Malaria Guidelines Committee, commented, “What we are seeing far too often is people not taking anti-malarial medication, taking the wrong medication for the country they are visiting, or not completing the course for the prescribed time after leaving the malarious area. Malaria is a dangerous and potentially fatal disease, but is preventable with good bite prevention measures and the correct anti-malarial medication.”

Malaria is currently endemic in over 100 countries. Malaria deaths in the UK nearly doubled between 2002 and 2003 with 9 deaths in 2002 and 16 in 2003. Malaria Awareness Week, sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline Travel Health, runs from 16-22 May 2005, and aims to combat people’s complacency of this potentially fatal disease by seeking advice from their GP, practice nurse or pharmacist before visiting a malarious country.

John Craven OBE is backing the campaign to raise awareness of the disease amongst UK travellers. “Having had first hand experience of the disease, with my father having contracted malaria and suffered from it recurrently throughout his life, I fully support this campaign and encourage all UK travellers to seek health advice before setting out on their travels. As more people become adventurous in their travel abroad, it is a shame that people risk ruining their holiday by not taking adequate precautions before they go. Whether you are a backpacker or staying in a 5-star hotel, everyone is at risk, so it really is important to be fully protected.”

An exhibition entitled Just One Bite will run from 15-18 May 2005 at The Natural History Museum. More information on malaria and complimentary invitations to the exhibition can be found at www.malariahotspots.co.uk.