Malaria on the rise in the UK

(04 July 2008)

The number of travellers returning to Britain infected with a potentially lethal form of malaria has risen dramatically because people aren't taking antimalarial drugs, a health survey found yesterday.

The Health Protection Agency study found over 6,500 cases of the deadly falciparum strain were diagnosed in the UK between 2002 and 2006, an increase of 30% over the last 15 years.

Over half of those interviewed admitted they had failed to take antimalarial treatment before travelling to infected areas.

The majority of cases occurred in migrants returning to Western Africa, who falsely believed they were immune to the disease.