Malaria Advice

Malaria is a disease that is prominent in Africa, South East Asia and South America. If you are going on expedition in any of these regions, you should read the following Malaria advice carefully and consider taking anti-malarial medicines before embarking on your expedition. Whilst we can give you advice, we are not medically qualified and therefore urge you to consult your doctor up to 4 weeks before you travel to ensure that you have all the necessary advice and medication you need to protect yourself from Malaria.

Malaria prevention - avoid being bitten
Malaria affects around 2000 travellers from the UK every year and, although in the worst situations it can be fatal, it is both preventable and treatable. Malaria is passed to human beings by mosquitoes, but only if the mosquito is already infected with the disease. You should do everything you can to avoid being bitten by a mosquito during your expedition including the regular use of mosquito repellent and wearing long-sleeved tops and trousers that cover ankles. You should not panic if you discover that you’ve been bitten by a mosquito. This does not mean that Malaria has been contracted and even if the disease has been contracted it can be treated by seeking medical advice and by taking anti-malarial medicines.

Symptoms of Malaria
If at any point on your expedition you suffer from headaches, tummy aches, sensations of weakness or muscle aches consult your expedition leader immediately and check your body for mosquito bites. These are the beginning symptoms of Malaria and reporting such symptoms in the first instance could save a lot of unnecessary pain, panic and problems in the long run.

In the unlikely event that you do contract Malaria you can expect to experience other symptoms including fevers, shivers and loss of appetite. Medical advice should be sought straight away if you think you may have contracted Malaria. Expedition leaders are fully trained on how to help you avoid the disease and cope with it should it occur.

It is also important to inform expedition leaders about any antimalarial treatments you have taken as this can affect treatment of the disease at a later date. If you have any further questions about Malaria consult your doctor or contact a World Challenge representative in good time before your expedition.

 

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