What is Malaria?

Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted, in most cases, by certain species of mosquitoes. If an infectedin mosquito bites you, the parasite its saliva onhumans. enters your blood and travels to your liver to grow. Once it matures, the parasite leaves your liver, enters your blood, and causes symptoms. It can take a week, several months, or even a year or longer for symptoms to appear after you are infected with malaria. The most common malaria symptoms are a high fever, body aches, chills and sweating. Malaria infection can also cause nausea and vomiting, headaches, diarrhea, and other problems. In serious cases, however, a malaria infection can cause complications such as brain damage, breathing trouble, or kidney failure.

Who Is at Risk?

ANYONE can get malaria

Live in countries with malaria transmission. Travel to countries with malaria Blood transfusion Before or during delivery(An infected mother can transmit malaria to her infant)

Areas in dark blue indicate malaria risk may exist in a part of the country.

How People Get Malaria (Transmission)

Bitten by an infective female Anopheles mosquito.

BEFORE TRAVELERS TO MALARIOUS AREAS TRAVEL Travelers to countries with malaria, including infants, children, and former residents of these countries, should visit their health care provider 4-6 weeks before travel, for vaccinations and a prescription for an antimalarial drug. Health care provider will prescribe the antimalarial based on travel itinerary and medical history. DRUGS RECOMMENDED FOR PREVENTION
Mefloquine, Doxycycline, Chloroquine Take tablets on the same day each week or, in the case of tablets to be OF MALARIA taken daily, at the same time each day. Take tablets after meals. Take the recommended doses 1 to 2 weeks before travel, throughout the trip, and for 4 weeks after leaving the malarious area. Don't stop taking the tablets after arriving home,it is essential to complete the full dosage.

PROTECTION AGAINST M

Avoiding the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes (bite only between dusk and dawn) is the best way to prevent infection.
TO AVOID MOSQUITO BITES

Apply insect repellent to exposed skin. The recommended repellent contains 20%-35% DEET Wear long-sleeved clothing and long pants if you are outdoors at night. Use a mosquito net over the bed if your bedroom is not airconditioned or screened. For additional protection, treat the mosquito net with the insecticide permethrin. Spray an insecticide or repellent on clothing, as mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing. Spray permethrin or a similar insecticide in your bedroom before going to bed.

SELF-TREATMENT
If you develop a fever or other flu-like illness and professional medical care is not available within 24 hours, take your selftreatment drug and seek medical care immediately after selftreatment.

NO VACCINE AGAINST MALARIA.