PREVENTION MALARIA IN TRAVELERS: ASSESSING THE RISK OF MALARIA
Posted by adminAssessing malarial risk requires a detailed knowledge of a patient’s travel itinerary and accommodations. The risk that a traveler will become infected depends on the overall rate of malaria transmission in the geographic area to be visited and on the extent of contact with infected mosquitoes. Transmission rates may vary greatly from region to region, even within the same country. In countries where the overall risk is relatively low, there may be foci of intense transmission.
The assessment of risk of malaria infection depends on several other considerations. Since malaria transmission often follows stringent seasonal patterns linked to rainfall, the timing of the trip may influence risk. The elevation of the destination is important, because malaria transmission is rare above 2000 m attitude. Finally, since the Anopheles mosquito feeds from dusk to dawn, the risk of transmission is influences by a traveler’s nighttime activities and accommodations.
Regular updated maps identifying malaria risk areas and times are available from several sources and can be valuable tools in counseling patients.
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