Malaria is one of the most important infectious threats to the uninformed tropical traveler. It is a mosquito-borne infection of red blood cells that can cause fever, headache, delirium, convulsions, coma, and death. Worldwide, it is estimated that 300-500 million clinical cases and 1.5-2.7 million deaths occur due to malaria annually. Almost all of these are in developing nations.

Although the disease was largely eradicated in the United States in the 1940s, about 1,000-1,400 cases of malaria are reported to CDC each year; almost all acquired during international travel. Over 75% of these cases are associated with failure to use recommended chemoprophylaxis.

Of the 68 U.S. travelers who died of malaria from 1959 to 1987, 96% failed to correctly use antimalarial prophylactic drugs.

This site was designed to educate travelers about maleria, alert them to the precautions that they must take when traveling to a malarial area, and gather information about cases of malaria. It was created as a class project for Epidemiology 414 at the UCLA School of Public Health.

• About Malaria - How does it work?

• Frequently Asked Questions about Malaria - What Travelers Should Know

• Links to Malaria Sites - How to Protect Yourself

• Report Form - Report A Case of Malaria

• Comments and Feedback - Always Welcome

• Search this Site

• About Me