Irish holidaymakers urged to be aware of malaria risks

Irish holidaymakers are being urged to take extra precautions to avoid contracting malaria while abroad.

The Tropical Medicine Bureau says the number of cases of the disease increased by 60% last year and looks like rising further this year.

The increase is being blamed on the fact that three quarters of Irish people visiting countries with a known risk of malaria are not packing medication to prevent an infection.

Dr Graham Fry of the Tropical Medicine Bureau said today that significant developments had been made in the area of anti-malarial treatment in recent years and there was no reason for Irish people to remain unprotected when abroad.