3 December 2004: Malaria in travellers who fail to take prophylaxis

An article in Communicable Disease Report Weekly discusses the increased number of cases of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in tourists to the Dominican Republic. It also reports on the recent death of a British man following a seven day holiday to the Gambia.

These cases emphasise the importance of travellers seeking pre travel health advice, determining whether their destination is a risk for malaria, and taking appropriate medication and mosquito bite avoidance measures.