Each year, up to 30,000 travellers contract malaria, and last year alone there were 214 million new cases of malaria were reported and 400,000 people died of the disease, many of them children. Countries are reporting a rise in imported malaria cases and companies sending staff overseas are being warned about the importance of taking appropriate precautions and implementing prevention tactics when travelling to malaria endemic areas.

Medical and travel security risk services company, International SOS, says, despite this, some optimism is justified as outside of Europe, where first the first time not a single indigenous case was reported in 2015. Eight more countries reported zero cases in 2014, including for instance Costa Rica and Sri Lanka.

International SOS' data shows a correlation between calls for information about malaria and reduced hospital admissions, hospital stays and evacuations related to malaria. It analysed the requests for assistance they received regarding malaria over the four-year period between 2012 and 2015. The more calls for advice and information received; the less cases of people needing malaria treatment and assistance. Malaria in-patient and evacuation cases spiked when there were fewer calls for information about malaria.

“Travelling abroad has become very common for some,” explained Dr Irene Lai, medical director at International SOS, “and, the more the novelty wears off, so does the time and effort in pre-travel preparation. Unfortunately for the global traveller, neglecting the research and preparation for health-related matters can end up with serious consequences.”

“The data shows that lack of pre-travel preparation is the norm, indicating travellers are complacent about risks,” Dr Lai added. “It is imperative for travellers to know the symptoms of malaria and seek immediate medical attention if they develop – even if they believe they have taken all the right preventive actions. We still see travellers dying from malaria and these deaths may have been preventable.”

The most effective way for travellers to reduce the likelihood of contracting malaria is to understand the risks at their destination, prevent mosquito bites, and use preventive medication if prescribed.

In addition to the well-being of travellers and staff, organisations can financially benefit from malaria prevention programmes. 'Return on Prevention', a paper published by research and consultancy firm Prevent, determined a return of US$1.32 for each US$1 invested in an employee malaria prevention programme.

In 2015 the World Health Assembly resolved to eliminate malaria from at least 35 countries by the year 2030. While ambitious, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Monday, World Malaria Day, this is "achievable".

Zika update (Source: World Health Organisation)

In its latest (21st April 2016) Situation Report, the WHO stated that from 1 January 2007 to 20 April 2016, Zika virus transmission was documented in a total of 66 countries and territories.

42 countries are experiencing a first outbreak of Zika virus since 2015, with no previous evidence of circulation, and with ongoing transmission by mosquitos. 17 countries have reported evidence of Zika virus transmission prior to 2015, with or without ongoing transmission or have reported an outbreak since 2015 that is now over.

Eight countries have now reported evidence of person-to-person transmission of Zika virus, other than mosquito-borne transmission (Argentina, Chile, France, Italy, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal and the United States of America).

In the week to 20 April, no additional countries have reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission. Peru and Portugal are the latest countries to report person-to-person transmission.

Microcephaly and other fetal malformations potentially associated with Zika virus infection or suggestive of congenital infection have been reported in six countries (Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, French Polynesia, Martinique and Panama). Two cases, each linked to a stay in Brazil, were detected in Slovenia and the United States of America. A further case, linked to a brief stay in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, was detected in a pregnant woman in the United States of America.

In the context of Zika virus circulation, 13 countries and territories worldwide have reported an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and/or laboratory confirmation of a Zika virus infection among GBS cases.

Based on a growing body of research, there is scientific consensus that Zika virus is a cause of microcephaly and GBS.

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