Cases of malaria in the UK have increased steadily over the last 20 years.

A study by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) has revealed that cases of malaria – the world’s second biggest killer after tuberculosis – have risen steadily in the UK over the last 20 years, with the disease most prevalent in residents who have travelled to Africa or South Asia.

According to the HPA’s Malaria Reference Laboratory, there were 39,300 reported cases of malaria in the UK between 1987 and 2006 – 52% of which were diagnosed in visitors from the UK visiting malarious countries, the remainder were among visitors to the UK.

Most worryingly, the type of malaria that has seen the biggest increase, Plasmodium falciparum (Pf), is the strain that causes the most deaths from the disease and was most commonly found in visitors to West Africa. Travellers to South Asia were more likely to contract the Plasmodium vivax form of the disease, the second most common strain.

Professor Peter Chiodini, head of the HPA’s Malaria Reference Laboratory, commented on the findings: “There is a prevailing myth that travellers who were born in a malaria-endemic country such as Africa have some ‘natural’ immunity to malaria and this is simply not the case. Like all other people who go to Africa and Asia they need to make sure they take their anti-malaria drugs and follow the guidelines that are there to protect everyone.

“Without taking the appropriate protective drugs and using other preventative measures to prevent mosquito bites, UK travellers are exposing themselves to a killer disease.”

The study identified that the vast majority of malaria cases – 83% – were found in those who had not taken any preventative drugs against the disease. If travellers take advice and appropriate anti-malaria medication before they leave the UK, the HPA describes the disease as being “almost completely preventable”.

Indicators of the disease have been likened to ‘flu-like’ symptoms such as fever, shaking and muscle aches, and can occur during the trip or up to a year afterwards. The Agency is urging travellers to seek advice from their GP or travel health clinic about the appropriate measures to take before they travel.

For more information about the disease and prevention guidelines, visit the HPA’s website or talk to your doctor or travel health specialist.