Malaria​ ​is​ ​a​ ​serious​ ​tropical​ ​disease​ ​spread​ ​by​ ​mosquitoes.​ ​If​ ​it​ ​isn’t​ ​diagnosed​ ​and​ ​treated promptly,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​be​ ​fatal.​ ​People​ ​who​ ​get​ ​malaria​ ​are​ ​typically​ ​very​ ​sick​ ​with​ ​high​ ​fevers,​ ​shaking chills,​ ​and​ ​flu-like​ ​illness.

Malaria​ ​can​ ​be​ ​prevented​ ​and​ ​treated​ ​using​ ​antimalarial​ ​medicines.​ ​In​ ​some​ ​cases,​ ​an​ ​individual may​ ​be​ ​prescribed​ ​emergency​ ​standby​ ​treatment​ ​for​ ​malaria​ ​before​ ​they​ ​travel. It​ ​is​ ​vital​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​mosquito​ ​bites​ ​by​ ​using​ ​insect​ ​repellent,​ ​covering​ ​your​ ​arms​ ​and​ ​legs,​ ​and using​ ​a​ ​mosquito​ ​net.​ ​

Check​ ​whether​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​take​ ​malaria​ ​prevention​ ​tablets,​ ​and,​ ​if​ ​you​ ​do, make​ ​sure​ ​you​ ​take​ ​the​ ​right​ ​antimalarial​ ​tablets​ ​at​ ​the​ ​right​ ​dose​ ​and​ ​finish​ ​the​ ​course.


Many thanks to Julie Berry, the voice of the London Underground’s Picadilly Line, for narrating this podcast.