Malaria Facts
Every year around 30,000 travellers and expatriates get malaria
International SOS South Africa evacuates more than 50 people with severe malaria annually
The lack of prevention and treatment result in 1 million deaths each year and affects close to half a billion people in 109 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America
Malaria is a major occupational illness, responsible for numerous lost work days every year
Educating and preparing your employees who travel to destinations where Malaria is endemic, is critical to fulfilling your duty of care obligations
Symptoms
are often difficult to distinguish from a cold, flu or other gastro-intestinal disease
may include fever, headache, sweats and chills, painful joints, fatigue, cough, diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting
could appear as early as 7 days after an infected bite or as long as 6 months to a year later
may deteriorate (if left untreated) to include severe headache, muscular pain, sweating and intermittent fever, rapid pulse, light headedness, mental confusion and anxiety
The good news is that if it is diagnosed and treated swiftly and correctly, recovery is usually complete.
Preventative medication (chemoprophylaxis)
prevents or suppresses malaria at a dose lower than that used for treatment, but high enough to create a hostile environment for malaria parasites that have entered the body after a bite
will mask malaria symptoms (because it is the symptoms that are deadly!)
commonly presents minor side effects that pale in comparison to the risk of contracting potentially life-threatening malaria
should never be considered to offer 100% protection in isolation. Always remember ABCD:
A (Awareness): Understand the disease and how to protect yourself
B (Bite Prevention): Control mosquitoes and avoid their bites
C (Chemoprophylaxis): Compliance to chemoprophylaxis guidelines
D (Diagnosis): Seek immediate attention for early diagnosis
Consult your General Practitioner, International SOS or a travel medicine expert to find the most appropriate preventative medication for your needs. Please dont listen to your hairdresser, the barman, the cook, or the expert that has had malaria 30 times. Listening to these pseudo-experts may cost your life!
Source:
International SOS www.internationalsos.com
World Health Organisation www.who.org
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MALARIA KILLS (BUT YOU CAN PREVENT IT)
