Warning over rise in malaria cases

MALARIA cases in Ireland are increasing, particularly among children, the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has warned.

Latest HPSC figures show that 96 cases were notified in Ireland in 2006, more than double that recorded in 2005.

Malaria was contracted in Africa in 76% of cases. Fortunately, there were no deaths due to the disease.

However, the HPSC is concerned that a quarter of cases involved children.

All cases of malaria in Ireland are imported. The disease is contracted in countries where it is endemic or found naturally.

HPSC specialist in public health medicine Dr Paul McKeown said most people infected were visiting family in countries where malaria is common.

However, some cases were also seen in holidaymakers, business travellers and people arriving in Ireland for the first time.

“It is particularly worrying that over 95% of those who acquired malaria either did not take the necessary protective antibiotics or did not finish the course,” he said.

Dr McKeown pointed out that people who live in areas where malaria is common often had some immunity to the disease, but this quickly wore off when they moved to a non-malarious country like Ireland.

“Unfortunately, parents returning to malarious countries often don’t realise that their Irish-born children will have no immunity at all to the disease,” warned Dr McKeown.

“There is a worrying rise in the number of childhood cases following travel, particularly to west Africa,” he said.

Dr McKeown said it was crucial that people, and particularly children, took preventive prescribed antibiotics when travelling to areas where malaria was common.

* www.hpsc.ie