Malaria in Mozambique
Sunday, 20 January, 2002

Current reports from Maputo, the capital city of Mocambique, describe a huge increase in malaria cases there creating heavy pressure on hospital resources.

At one stage it was thought that travellers to Mocambique only needed antimalarials for rural areas.

Certainly Maputo must now be considered a very definite risk area and travellers to Mozambique should discuss the various options for protection with a doctor.

Malaria is a parasitic infection of red blood cells. It is acquired via the bite of female anopheline mosquitoes. The ecology of the disease is complex depending on factors such as altitude, climate, breeding sites and human behaviour for successful transmission of the disease in an area. Mosquito populations will dramatically increase as the water collects and stagnates in pools.
There are three golden rules for preventing illness and death from malaria; avoid being bitten, use appropriate preventive antimalarial drugs, diagnose and treat malaria promptly. Doctors and nursing staff working in The Travel Doctor Group are experienced in recommendations on malaria. An excellent malaria prevention leaflet is available in the centres.

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