Malaria
With travel to long-haul destinations becoming more accessible and last minute bookings to exotic places on the rise, UK travellers are increasingly at risk of contracting diseases such as Malaria. Travellers need to know the facts.
How does Malaria affect humans?
Every year approximately 2,000 British travellers return home with Malaria and the UK is one of the biggest importers of Malaria among industrialised countries.
British travellers are increasingly going to countries where Malaria is prevalent; there has been a 150% increase in travel to malarious destinations amongst British travellers in the last ten years.
How dangerous is Malaria?
The most severe form of Malaria (Plasmodium falciparum) is on the increase amongst British travellers.
Malaria is a preventable infection but can be fatal if left untreated - an average of nine people die each year from Malaria in the UK.
Malaria is transmitted by an infected mosquito. It only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract Malaria.
How can I protect myself?
You are at risk when travelling to malarious areas if you do not take precautions to prevent yourself from being bitten and also if you do not take antiMalarials. You should ideally seek advice from a healthcare professional eight weeks before you travel but can still seek advice at the last minute. Some advice/protection is better than none.
There are different forms of antiMalarials available - the appropriate health care professional (GP, practice nurse, pharmacist or travel clinic) will be able to advise on the most suitable one for you.
Wherever you go, enjoy yourself, but make sure you are Malaria aware
Recommended Malaria Products
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Solo Net
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Micro Net
Compact wedge shaped mosquito net.
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Yellow Fever
Yellow Fever is a viral disease transmitted by mosquito bites. There are two types of Yellow Fever - jungle and urban.
In jungle Yellow Fever infection is normally between mosquitoes and monkeys, with humans just chance victims. But it is nevertheless a serious disease in humans and was one of the main obstacles to building the Panama canal.
In urban Yellow Fever, the infection moves from the jungle into cities, where it can cause human epidemics. The disease is transmitted from human to human by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which is a city-dwelling insect.
How and where does Yellow Fever affect humans?
Symptoms range from a flu-like illness to severe haemorrhage, jaundice, kidney failure and, in over 20% of cases, death. Doctors can attempt to correct damage caused by the infection but there is no treatment for the disease itself.
Yellow Fever occurs in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, with Africa the higher risk of the two. Strangely, though the mosquitoes and comparable conditions exist in Asia, Yellow Fever does not. The disease occurs mainly in jungle and transitional zones and not in coastal areas or the Andes.
How can I protect myself?
As with Malaria, avoiding mosquito bites can help, but Yellow Fever is a potentially deadly disease and vaccination is highly recommended. Yellow Fever vaccine is effective and lasts at least 10 years. It can only be given at Yellow Fever vaccination centres, listed by the National Travel Heath Network and Centre (see www.nathnac.org), which licenses and monitors them. Many countries require proof of vaccination with an international vaccination certificate, particularly for travellers coming from a country which has the disease.
Recommended Yellow Fever Products
Expedition 100+ repellent
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Solo Net
Tough, versatile travel mosquito net.
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Natural Plus Repellent
Effective repellent with natural ingredient.
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Micro Net
Compact wedge shaped mosquito net.
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Dengue Fever
Dengue is a viral disease carried by mosquitoes, usually Aedes species which live in urban areas and bite during the day. It is the number 2 mosquito-carried disease after Malaria. There are 4 different viruses that cause Dengue, conveniently named DEN 1, DEN 2, DEN 3 and DEN 4. Unfortunately, immunity against one does not protect against the others.
Dengue used to be rare, with its spread limited by the slow speed of sailing ships. But with mass air travel and urbanisation, Dengue has spread rapidly from the coast of Queensland, through Asia and Africa to Central and South America and even to the Southern USA. Ever increasing numbers are becoming infected.
How and where does Dengue Fever affect humans?
After 3 to 8 days those infected may develop fever headache and pain in muscles and bones, hence its old name of `break-bone fever'. A patient may then recover but fever and rash can recur. About 2% of people, more commonly children and perhaps those who have previously had a different Dengue infection, will develop Dengue haemorrhagic fever with bleeding from the gums and under the skin. This can lead to shock and death.
Dengue is still mainly found in Southeast Asia and the western Pacific but cases now occur throughout the tropics and subtropics
How can I protect myself?
There is no treatment for the infection itself. Patients with Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever need good supportive care on intensive care wards.
General bite avoidance as with Malaria can help reduce risk on infection. There is no vaccine against Dengue although there are several projects to develop one.
Recommended Dengue Fever Products
Expedition 100+ repellent
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Expedition 50+ repellent
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Solo Net
Tough, versatile travel mosquito net.
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Natural Plus Repellent
Effective repellent with natural ingredient.
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Micro Net
Compact wedge shaped mosquito net.
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Bilharzia
Bilharzia, also known as Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by schistosomes or blood flukes. These are picked up by exposure to these organisms in freshwater, ie rivers, streams and lakes in endemic areas. The flukes cause illness in humans by producing inflammation and the mechanical obstruction of organs.
Schistosomiasis affects approximately 200 million people worldwide causing significant illness and in some cases death. In rural, tropical and semitropical areas different types cause different clinical pictures.
How and where does Bilharzia affect humans?
The symptoms experienced depend upon which species of fluke infests the individual. 'Swimmer's itch' is one symptom that develops where the parasite entered the skin and is often the only symptom.
Other symptoms that may occur include muscle pains, diarrhoea, fever, vomiting, coughing, burning when passing urine, passing urine more frequently and blood in the urine.
Untreated Bilharzia may cause life-threatening urinary system or liver damage, bladder tumours and bowel cancer.
Bilharzia mainly affects people in developing countries. People who bathe in lakes, rivers, canals or in freshwater pools that haven't been chlorinated in the tropics are at risk of developing Bilharzia. People from the UK become infested only when visiting tropical countries. It's more common in children.
How can I protect myself?
The infection can be avoided by not swimming or wading in water in tropical areas where Bilharzia is known to occur.
If exposure has occurred, seek medical advice. Infestation is treated with medication to kill the parasite.
Recommended Bilharzia Products
Expedition 100+ repellent
Maximum protection DEET based insect repellent.
£
Expedition 50+ repellent
Highly effective DEET based insect repellent.
£
Solo Net
Tough, versatile travel mosquito net.
£
Natural Plus Repellent
Effective repellent with natural ingredient.
£
Micro Net
Compact wedge shaped mosquito net.
£