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University Health Service

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Malaria prevention

Its a sobering fact that globally malaria still kills more people than any other disease, war or civil disaster. So there are many parts of the world where malaria prevention is absolutely essential.

Mosquitoes are most active from dusk to dawn. Malaria is only one of the problems they can cause. Other problems include local reactions and infections at the site of the bite, Yellow Fever, dengue fever and Japanese B encephalitis.

Malaria prevention begins with the simple, but highly effective measure, that is to avoid getting bitten, i.e.:
• sleep in a room that is properly screened with close-fitting gauze over the doors, windows & possible entry points
• sleep under a net if screening is not available or you are out of doors
• spray the room with knockdown repellent to kill any mosquitoes that have entered during the day
• use pyrethroid coils or heat insecticide tablets (carefully) during the night [electronic 'buzzing' devices do not work]
• spray exposed skin with repellent after sunset
• wear long sleeves, trousers and socks after sunset to avoid bites
• mosquitoes are less attracted to light coloured clothing
• spray thin clothes with repellent as mosquitoes will bite through them
• refined lemon eucalyptus oil on skin also repels mosquitoes

[Source: Pharmaceutical Journal, Vol. 267, 21/Jul/2001]

Information on the drugs used for malaria can be found on our malaria drug information page.