A survey has found that more than half of British travellers would not be able to recognise the symptoms of malaria if they were infected by the deadly disease.

Warning signs for malaria include muscle pains, sweats and chills, headaches, high temperature, coughing and diarrhoea, making the symptoms easily confused with those of the common cold.

The poll of 2,254 people revealed that 57% were unaware of the symptoms of malaria. These findings come on the back of a number of high profile cases of the disease and news that UK malaria cases increased by almost 30% in the last two years.

The Malaria Awareness Campaign aims make British travellers more aware of the danger. However, spokesman Dr George Kassianos warns that the disease is still hard to detect:

“The symptoms of malaria can be almost identical to those of common flu and can be non-specific, making it difficult for healthcare professionals to diagnose malaria early and accurately.

But if flu-like symptoms are coupled with history of travel to a malarious destination in the last 12 months, or sometimes even longer, it is essential that this infectious disease is ruled out.”

Because of these difficulties “prevention is key….Travellers should seek travel health advice six to eight weeks before they travel.” Kassianos adds: “Failure to identify malaria quickly can be potentially fatal, which is why I am urging patients to help their healthcare professional with the diagnosis by always volunteering information of travel abroad.”

For more information about malaria visit www.malariahotspots.co.uk

We advise all of our international volunteers to visit their doctor well in advance of their departure.