As cross-border travel in Hong Kong is slowly starting to resume1, it remains important to get medical advice before departing to learn about the likelihood of disease in the countries you plan to visit. One travel-related disease is malaria, which is found in destinations such as Sub-Saharan Africa. The disease spreads by bites from infected mosquitoes. Fortunately, there are methods to both prevent and treat malaria2.
Only a few countries are considered malaria-free, and the World Health Organization has recently declared China as one of them3. In Hong Kong, malaria has been well controlled over the past decades and it is very rare to contract malaria from mosquito bites. Between the years 1996 to 2005, 521 cases were reported, of which 98.7% were imported4.
The risk of malaria infection in Hong Kong remains low. However, it’s important to take note of necessary prevention methods if you are travelling to the following tropical and subtropical areas of the world5:
Source: Travel Health Service5
For a detailed breakdown of all regions, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s malaria information by country, table here.
Malaria is a serious disease that is spread by infected female Anopheline mosquitoes. People who have malaria exhibit high fevers, shivering chills and flu-like symptoms6. A full recovery is possible when malaria is diagnosed and treated quickly. As soon as a blood test shows the presence of a malaria parasite, treatment should begin6.
Symptoms of Malaria can develop as quickly as 7 days after an infected bite. Initial symptoms include7:
Malaria is tested by a diagnostic test, where a drop of blood is examined under a microscope for the presence of malaria parasites7.
Antimalarial medications that prevent malaria can also treat it. However, if you took an antimalarial to prevent malaria, you shouldn’t receive the same one to treat it. So make sure to inform your doctor about the antimalarials you've taken8.
The type of antimalarial medicine you'll need and how long you will need to take it will be determined by the following factors8:
Hydroxychloroquine, a derivative of Chloroquine, along with Atovaquone/Proguanil, is often the first drug to be used, depending on the strain of malaria. It is also the best tested, least expensive and most available medication for malaria.
The recommended treatment if the strain has Chloroquine resistance and is not severe. It comes in a tablet form under the name Malarone and is taken orally. An intravenous treatment of Atovaquone/Proguanil might also be used as an interim treatment in more severe cases of malaria.
An antibiotic drug that can be used as a preventive measure prior to travelling. It might be used to complement another drug or used as a post-malaria recovery drug intravenously.
The course of medication depends on the type of malaria you have. Please speak to your general practitioner for more information.
Although there is progress in developing malaria vaccines over the last ten years, there is presently no licensed malaria vaccine on the market5.
Avoiding mosquito bites is the first and best line of defence against contracting malaria. Travellers can also protect themselves by taking antimalarial medication9.
If you are travelling to a region with a risk of malaria, speak to your general practitioner about which medications you should take. You might need to take certain medicines during your travels and several days before and after you travel8.
Antimalarials reduce your risk of infection by 90%8. However, it remains essential that you take the necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Although there is no vaccine for malaria, it can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and treating it with anti-malarial medication. Speak to your general practitioner if you plan to visit a country with reported malaria transmission and always ensure you're complying with international vaccine regulations.