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1 April 2005: Changes to malaria advice for tsunami affected areas
Following the tsunamis in Asia on 26 December 2004, it was recommended that travellers to affected areas of Thailand and Sri Lanka take malaria chemoprophylaxis where previously this was not considered necessary.
The surveillance data has been thoroughly reviewed and as of 1 April 2005, there have been no unusual increases of malaria reported in these regions. In conjunction with the Health Protection Agency, Advisory Committee on Malaria Prevention (ACMP) this recommendation has therefore been removed.
The situation will, however, be continuously monitored.
A summary of these changes can be seen in the table below.
| Country | Previous recommendations | Updated advice |
|---|---|---|
Thailand |
Affected Western coast of Thailand (e.g. Phuket, Phi Phi island), where malaria risk was previously considered very low: Malarone or doxycycline |
Affected western coast of Thailand (e.g. Phuket, Phi Phi island) risk considered very low. Mosquito avoidance recommended. |
Sri Lanka |
Areas not affected by tsunami: Chloroquine plus proguanil. Affected coastal areas (south of Colombo) where previously no chemoprophylaxis recommended: Chloroquine plus proguanil. Colombo: No increased risk. Recommendation:-mosquito avoidance; no prophylaxis recommended |
Areas not affected by tsunami: Chloroquine plus proguanil. Affected coastal areas (south of Colombo) where previously no chemoprophylaxis recommended: low risk, mosquito avoidance.
Colombo: No increased risk. Recommendation:-mosquito avoidance; no prophylaxis recommended |
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