Malaria as a communicable disease

Malaria parasites enter the bloodstream after the bite of an infected mosquito. It is not usually passed by casual contact such as sitting near someone, sharing food or touching. Symptoms can begin after travel and may include fever, shaking chills, sweating, headache, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting or unusual weakness. Symptoms can come and go, so a period of feeling better does not rule it out.

Any unexplained fever after visiting a malaria area deserves prompt medical advice. See [Malaria](/conditions/malaria/) for an overview, and tell the clinician where you travelled and when you returned.

Contact a healthcare service promptly if fever or flu-like illness develops during or after travel to a malaria area. Mention mosquito exposure, accommodation, travel dates and any prevention medicine. A clinician may arrange a [Blood Test](/treatments/diagnostics-and-screening/blood-test/) and decide whether repeat testing or treatment is needed. For future travel, a [Travel Health Consultation](/treatments/occupational-and-travel-medicine/travel-health-consultation/) can review prevention choices.

Get emergency help for confusion, fainting, seizures, difficulty breathing, severe weakness, inability to drink, repeated vomiting or a rapidly worsening fever after possible exposure. Malaria can become serious quickly, particularly in children, pregnancy and people with reduced immunity. Do not rely on symptom improvement or self-treatment to exclude it.

Ask whether your travel route and timing require malaria testing, which warning signs should send you to emergency care, and how to prevent mosquito bites on future trips. Ask whether [Malaria Prophylaxis](/treatments/occupational-and-travel-medicine/malaria-prophylaxis/) is suitable for your destination and health history.