Malaria locations: where malaria is found and what travellers should know

Risk varies between countries and can differ by region, season, altitude and type of accommodation. A city stay, rural visit and time spent outdoors may carry different exposure patterns. Local mosquito activity also changes, and a location that feels familiar may still require advice before departure.

Symptoms can begin after returning home rather than during the trip. Fever, chills and muscle aches after travel should be assessed with the destination and dates clearly described. These symptoms can have many causes, so they do not by themselves establish malaria.

Arrange a travel health consultation early enough to discuss your itinerary, medical history, pregnancy plans and medicines. Prevention may combine mosquito-bite measures with malaria prophylaxis chosen for the destination. Use repellent, cover exposed skin, and sleep behind intact screens or under suitable bed netting where advised.

Keep a record of the countries, regions and dates visited. If illness develops, tell the clinician that you travelled to a malaria area, even if you used prevention. A blood test may be part of the assessment.

Seek urgent medical advice for fever or a flu-like illness during travel or after returning from a malaria area, particularly when symptoms include chills, marked weakness, confusion, breathing difficulty or repeated vomiting. Do not wait for symptoms to become severe or assume they are only jet lag. Tell the service about recent travel before arrival if possible.

Ask which parts of your itinerary have malaria risk, which prevention plan fits your health history, how long protection should continue after travel, and what symptoms should trigger testing.