Travellers warned about malaria risk

British travellers have been warned about the risk of a life-threatening strain of malaria.

New figures have shown that over 1,500 UK travellers returned home with malaria last year. The Health Protection Agency has revealed that nearly 75 per cent of the cases were the most dangerous strain, plasmodium falciparum.

The Association of British Travel Agents says that as the euro gains strength, more people could ditch European package holidays with trips to popular long-haul destinations such as Africa and south-east Asia.

George Kassianos, member of the UK malaria guidelines committee, said that evidence shows that people who book last-minute trips are much less likely to seek travel health advice before embarking.

He advised that health care appointments should be made six to eight weeks before travel.

"Deaths can occur within 24 hours of the first symptoms of the most dangerous strain of malaria, so all travellers need to recognise the importance of speaking to their GP, practice nurse or travel clinic about malaria prevention before going abroad," he warned.

Plasmodium falciparum is the most deadly of the four distinct species of the malaria parasite that affects humans, according to the Sanger research institute.