10 Countries That Have Serious Malaria Warnings

Malaria is prevalent in about one hundred countries around the world, and although travelers should take heed, not all of those countries have high levels of the disease in all areas. Levels vary from low to high and can be dependent on rainfall amounts and the success rate of malaria control efforts. Health care professionals advise travelers to research current risk levels for their country of choice before booking airplane tickets.

10. Afghanistan

Afghanistan has the fourth largest incident rate of malaria in the world. It is listed as second highest within the World Health Organization's Eastern Mediterranean Region. There are sixty-three districts in twelve provinces in the high-risk category. The risk of malaria in Afghanistan is rated at moderate from April to December in all low-altitude regions of the country below 2,500 m. As of 2015, there have been forty-nine reported deaths and 86,895 confirmed health facility cases.

9. Benin

Malaria is a large health concern in this African country. Forty-four percent of outpatient visits are accredited to the disease and the illness takes the lead as the number one cause of death of the country’s children aged five and under. When the U.S. funded and launched the President’s Malaria Initiative in 2005 in an attempt to reduce global cases, Benin was one of fifteen countries to benefit from the strategy.

8. Myanmar (Burma)

Low-lying rural areas of Myanmar are at high risk for malaria. Travelers are urged to be prepared ahead of time by getting medication and taking it during the trip. Some drugs have been proven to resist certain strains of malaria. There is broad resistance to chloroquine and in a few areas, mefloquine helps people resist the disease. Particularly in the provinces of Bago, Kachin, Kayah, Shan, and Tanintharyi atovaquone-proguanil or doxycycline are recommended.

7. China

Health experts recommend travelers remain up-to-date on vaccines when planning trips to China even though there is currently low risk for malaria in most areas. People there should also avoid mosquito bites and may be required to take medicine before and during the trip if plans include a lot of outdoor time and sleeping outside. Like all areas with some risk, purchasing travel insurance is also highly recommended.

6. The Gambia

Since malaria is highly prevalent in The Gambia, recommendations on preventative measures have been put into place. Even before entering the country, travelers are advised to take anti-malaria medication. Outdoor campers should use netting around bedding and insect repellent should be used at all times. Sleeping with a fan helps keep mosquitos away. Residents can help by keeping gardens free of standing water, grass cut short, and fallen and dead leaves off the ground.

5. Ghana

There is a high risk of malaria in Ghana and the disease is a serious one among residents and travelers. Malaria is responsible for the death of about 20,000 children each year and accounts for twenty-five percent of the mortality rate of children five years old and younger. The long-term effects on children afflicted with the disease include the possibility of convulsions or brain damage.

4. Haiti

As of 2015, the only remaining areas of the Caribbean affected by malaria are Haiti and the Dominican Republic. In Haiti, the risk is rated as low to moderate, depending on exact location and conditions. Part of the cause is due to an earthquake in January 2010 which caused some reservoirs to become fertile grounds for infectious mosquitos. Antimalarial medications and avoidance of mosquitos is highly recommended while traveling around Haiti.

3. Nigeria

Malaria is a major problem in Nigeria, especially among the general population. The country has the largest prevalence of the disease and ninety-seven percent of people live in the highest-risk areas. As a country with a high rate of poverty, prevention is a challenge, so the death rate from malaria has climbed to the highest in the world. Of the 100 million cases each year, about 300,000 end in death. It affects fifty percent of children in the South West.

2. Papua New Guinea

Malaria is most prevalent in the lowlands of Papua New Guinea. Of the four human species of the disease, the most endemic is Plasmodium falciparum, recorded at rates rarely seen outside of sub-Saharan Africa. This unique occurrence has led to more research on the variety of causes, in particular, the parasites responsible for transmitting the disease. Prevention medication is critical for travelers to the country and dosage must be continued upon returning home.

1. Solomon Islands

Although the risk remains high in the Solomon Islands, there has been a steady decrease in deaths from the disease from 1990 to 2010. In total, the mortality rate per 100,000 people decreased by 65.8 percent in this time period, equating to a 2.9 percent decline per year. Older men over the age of eighty account for the most male cases and in 2013, there were slightly more deaths of men than women.