Recurring malaria is the most common type of malaria outside of sub-Saharan Africa affecting 8.5 million people each year. Once bitten by a mosquito carrying the disease, a strong course of treatment is administered, however the disease then lives dormant in your liver, ready to resurface at another time.
Until now, there has been no vaccination or medication to completely remove the parasite from your liver. Scientists have created a new drug which, taken at the time of falling ill from a bite, will completely remove the parasite from your body. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have already approved the new drug to be used in the USA. The next steps for this cure is for the FDA to allow the drug to be used in countries where this form of malaria is a significant problem.
So, what precautions should you take when travelling abroad this summer?
Before travelling to your chosen destination, it is important to ensure you have had the required vaccinations and have purchased a suitable bug repellent. Some vaccinations will need to be administered a few weeks prior to your departure date whereas others can be given a couple of days before, so be sure to check this with your GP and book a suitable appointment.
As vaccinations are no longer available under the NHS and can cost a small fortune it is worth looking for a travel insurance policy that will cover the cost of vaccinations if you are no longer able to go on your holiday. There are only a few travel insurance policies which offer this extra cover, so if this is something that is important to you, make sure you check the cover is there before you buy your policy.