More than 600 cases of malaria were reported in Qatar last year, all of which were acquired by patients in countries where malaria was endemic, Dr Hussam al-Soub, senior consultant, Infectious Diseases Unit at HMC, said.

“Vector-borne diseases are becoming more prevalent even in countries where such diseases are not endemic. In Qatar, for example, many people travel to areas where malaria is endemic, such as Africa, India and South East Asian countries. These areas are frequent destinations for both locals and expatriates, so it is important for people who are traveling there to take precautions to protect themselves against infection,” said al-Soub.

As part of efforts to recognise World Health Day, Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) is raising awareness among travellers to ensure they protect themselves from vector-borne diseases.

The World Health Organisation (WHO), which runs World Health Day, this year have introduced the slogan “Small bite, big threat”, which focuses on the increasing threat of diseases that are transferred through insect bites.

Vector-borne diseases are carried by mosquitoes, ticks, flies, sandflies, fleas, triatomine bugs and some freshwater aquatic snails. Examples of the diseases they carry include malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, leishmaniasis, Lyme disease and schistosomiasis.

According to the WHO, more than half of the world’s population is at risk from vector-borne diseases. Malaria is the most deadly disease, causing more than 600,000 deaths every year globally, while dengue fever is the fastest vector-borne disease with 40% of the world’s population at risk. These diseases are usually present in the poorest populations where there is lack of access to adequate housing, safe
drinking water and sanitation.

Dr al-Soub said that people at greater risk of developing severe illness from malaria include children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weak immune system for various reasons, such as surgery or illness.

He advised consulting with a doctor at least one month before travelling, and getting preventive medications for specific diseases that were endemic to your destination.

Timing is important, as prophylaxis and vaccines for certain diseases need time to act. For instance, preventive medications for malaria must be started at least two weeks before travel. Some vaccines need 10-14 days to provide effective protection against disease.

Take precautions, for instance, when visiting malaria-endemic areas, you can take measures such as using insecticide-treated mosquito nets, avoiding going outside at night (as mosquitoes usually bite during this time), wearing long sleeves to reduce exposure and applying insect-repellent creams to your skin.