What should you know about global technical strategy for malaria?

Malaria is caused by parasites transmitted through bites from infected mosquitoes. The strategy combines mosquito control, protective nets, preventive medicines for appropriate groups, prompt testing and effective treatment. It also supports surveillance so health services can detect changes in transmission and respond quickly.

Symptoms can include fever, chills, headache, sweating and muscle aches, but they overlap with other illnesses. A test is therefore useful before treatment when this can be arranged safely. Travel history matters because malaria risk and recommended medicines differ between destinations.

Before travel to a malaria-risk area, book a travel health consultation with enough time to discuss destination-specific prevention. A clinician may recommend malaria prophylaxis, insect repellent, long sleeves, screened rooms and a bed net. Take preventive medicine exactly as prescribed and continue it for the advised period after travel.

After returning, tell a clinician promptly about travel if you develop fever, chills or flu-like symptoms. Malaria can become serious, so do not rely on a home remedy or assume symptoms are from a common viral illness.

Get urgent medical care for fever during or after travel to a malaria-risk area, especially with confusion, extreme weakness, breathing difficulty, repeated vomiting, fainting or reduced alertness. Mention every country visited and when you returned. A blood test may need to be arranged quickly and repeated if early testing does not explain symptoms.

Ask whether your destination carries malaria risk, which preventive medicine suits your health and other medicines, how to avoid mosquito bites, and what symptoms require urgent testing after travel.