Malaria Deaths 'Risen By Over A Third'

Deaths from malaria have risen by over a third in the past 20 years, according to figures released today.

A research paper published by the British Medical Journal (BMJ) has revealed that a "huge rise" in the numbers of UK residents travelling to malaria endemic areas, combined with a failure to use prevention measures, has "significantly increased cases of imported falciparum malaria in the UK".

According to the paper, between 1987-91, there were 5,120 reported cases of potentially fatal faliciparum malaria, increasing to 6753 in 2002-6.

The BMJ says that the findings "highlight the urgent need for health messages and services targeted at travellers from migrant groups visiting friends and family abroad".

Malaria is seen a as "largely preventable" cause of disease and death in Europe every year.

Dr Adrian Smith from the Health Protection Agency's Malaria Laboratory, has presented the latest trends in malaria in the UK using data from the Malaria Reference Laboratory, involving 39 300 confirmed cases.

The paper has found that "imported malaria cases were heavily concentrated in communities with frequent travel to see their friends in West Africa".

Worringly, the paper's authors say that only 42% of UK travellers reported taking any form of malaria prophylaxis during their travels.

The authors say that "increasing the use of effective antimalarial prophylactic drugs by travellers visiting sub-Saharan Africa should be a priority".

Professor Peter Chiodini, who heads the HPA Malaria Reference Library said: "It is vital that anyone travelling to an area where malaria is a risk seeks medical advice before their trip. This is particularly true for people travelling to visit friends and relatives who have been shown to take less precautions to protect themselves than other people who are on holiday.

"There is a prevailing myth that travellers who were born in a malaria-endemic country such as Africa have some 'natural' immunity to malaria and this is simply not the case."

Jane Zuckerman, Director of World Health Organisation (WHO), says that "research into cultural beliefs, knowledge and attitude towards malaria prevention in people visiting friends and relatives in a malaria endemic countries, would help to identify how best to target health education techniques".

Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical regions.

It is reported that each year, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people.

(DS)