What should you know about malaria eradication?

Malaria eradication means ending human malaria transmission worldwide, while personal protection and early testing remain essential today. It requires coordinated mosquito control, accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, surveillance, community participation, and sustained public health work. Progress in one place can be threatened if infections are imported or prevention and treatment become difficult to access.

Malaria parasites differ, mosquitoes behave differently across environments, and some infections cause few noticeable symptoms at first. People can also move between regions, carrying infection into places where transmission has been reduced. Eradication therefore involves finding infections, treating them, reducing mosquito exposure, and adapting programmes to local conditions. It is different from elimination in one defined country or area.

Use mosquito protection when visiting or living in a malaria-risk area: apply repellent, cover exposed skin, and use screened sleeping spaces or bed nets. Take prescribed Malaria Prophylaxis exactly as directed when it is recommended for your trip. A Travel Health Consultation can match advice to your destination and health history. If fever develops, seek testing rather than assuming eradication work has removed all risk.

Fever, chills, sweating, headache, or muscle aches after possible exposure should prompt medical advice, including after returning home. Seek emergency care for confusion, a seizure, fainting, breathing difficulty, severe weakness, or repeated vomiting. Tell the clinician about every relevant destination and the timing of travel. A blood test may be needed even when symptoms seem to improve.

Ask whether your destination has current malaria transmission, which prevention measures are appropriate, and how long to watch for illness after travel. Discuss testing if fever appears, how results are followed up, and whether household members need advice. You can also ask how local mosquito-control messages apply to your home or workplace.