You have probably already heard the news that Cheryl Cole has contracted malaria while she was holidaying in Tanzania. We have heard that she did take some form of preventative treatment but did not start the medication prior to arriving in Tanzania.
It is necessary to take an appropriate medication for the malaria that is present in the region being visited. Malarone would have been an appropriate treatment for Tanzania and unlike most malaria treatments (which have to be started a few weeks before travel) this one can be taken a day or two before you set out on your trip but it must be continued for one week after you return.
The UK has the largest number of people who import malaria back into the UK after a holiday than anywhere else in the industrialized world. Malaria can be fatal but it usually responds to medication and there are only a few fatalities in the UK each year. Having said that, it is not a nice disease to have and it is so easy to prevent.
The Online Clinic established an anti-malaria service a few weeks ago to make it easier for people to access the sort of treatment that they need for their trip. The unfortunate incident involving the much loved Cheryl Cole simply serves to highlight the need to take precautions when travelling to malarious regions.