What is Malaria and How does it spread?
Malaria is a feverish illness and it is a mosquito-borne disease spread through a mosquito bite from a female Anopheles mosquito that is infected with a Plasmodium parasite. Left untreated can be fatal.
What is Malaria Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine?
Antimalarials, or malaria pills, prevent the malaria parasite from taking root in the body. Unlike a vaccination, antimalarials must be taken on a regular basis.
Who should get Malaria Vaccine ?
Anyone traveling to a region with malaria-like most of Subsaharan Africa and parts of North Africa, South East Asia/East Asia/Middle East, Central & South America, the Caribbean including Haiti and the Dominican Republic & Ports of Mexico and some Pacific island should consider antimalarial medication. Even if you were born in a country with malaria and since moved to Canada
Malaria Fever Symptoms
- WThe flu-like symptoms of malaria usually appear seven to 18 days after infection
- WCold Stage – Individuals experience a sensation of cold and shivering.
- WHot Stage – Commonly this starts with fever, headaches, and vomiting. Seizures can occur in young children.
- WSweating Stage – Sweating and begin to return to a normal temperature, tiredness is common
What can travelers do to prevent the disease?
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats to cover exposed skin.
- Follow product directions always and reapply as directed
- Use permethrin-treated clothing and gear (such as boots, pants, socks, and tents).
- Sleeping in screened or air-conditioned rooms.
- Use a bed net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors.
- Aware kids to stay away from wild animals such as bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes
