At a glance
What travellers should know
- Risk varies enormously by country, region and even season
- No antimalarial tablet is 100% effective on its own
- Bite prevention is just as important as tablets
- Some antimalarials need to be started before you travel and continued after you return
Choosing the right tablets
Several antimalarial medicines are available, and the right choice depends on your destination, medical history, other medicines and how long you're travelling for. Some need starting 1–2 days before travel, others up to 2–3 weeks before.
Bite prevention
Use a DEET-based (or equivalent) insect repellent, cover up in the evenings when mosquitoes that spread malaria are most active, and sleep under a treated net if one isn't already provided.
If you feel seriously unwell
- Fever developing during or after travel to a malaria-risk area, even months later — seek medical attention promptly and mention your travel history
Common questions
Malaria Prevention FAQs
This depends on which parts of your itinerary carry risk — some countries have risk in specific regions only. Your pharmacist will assess your full route.
No — some antimalarials need to be continued for a set period after you return home, as you can still be incubating the illness after leaving a risk area.