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The UK’s Health Protection Agency has published figures identifying the number of cases of malaria in the UK.
Thefigures show that 1,758 cases were reported in UK travellers in 2006,of which eight were fatal. Where the reason for travel is known, 57% ofthe malaria cases reported in the UK were among people visiting friendsand relatives in the tropics.
According to HPA malariaspecialist Professor Peter Chiodini, “It is a common misconception thatpeople who were born in places where malaria is rife and who now livein the UK have immunity to malaria. This is not the case, because theyvery quickly lose the partial immunity they might have acquired whilstthey lived there, and people who have never lived in these countrieshave no immunity.”
The report also includes advice fortravellers on the prevention of malaria. It says they should seekmedical attention should they develop a fever within a year of leavinga malarious region.
National Electronic Library for Medicines 1/5/2007
