Quite small you might think, but all these deaths are potentially preventable.

It is a little known fact that malaria was endemic in this country until the beginning of this century, the last case being in the Thames Estuary in the 1920's.

We still do get rare cases in this country but these are around airports where mosquitoes, who are probably worse for wear with the duty free, stagger out of a plane and bite the nearest baggage handler.

We actually have the right sort of mosquito in this country to carry malaria, but for once you can thank the British climate which even in the summer on average is too cold for the Malaria parasite.

This of course could all change with global warming. The main source of malaria infection therefore is from travellers returning from endemic areas abroad and as doctors we are always very careful about people who have returned from a malaria area with a temperature.

Incredible journey

When I was a G.P. in Norfolk I saw a gentleman with, as you might imagine, a strong Norfolk accent who told me that he has just come back from a trip 'in Malawi'

When did you get back I enquired? "Oh yesterday doctor", "and did you remember to take your Malaria pills?" I said.

The man looked puzzled and replied that he didn't realise that he had to take malaria pills in Malawi.

Well did you travel anywhere else? Well doctor I drove to Peterborough, Northampton and then Milton Keynes in 'Malawi'* and came back home on the A11.

The British Medical Journal reports that the number of malaria cases in the UK has increased because travellers have not been taking their anti-malarial drugs.

This is due to concerns about the side effects of Lariam highlighted in the media earlier on this year.

It is of course very important to take anti-malarial drugs, but bear in mind that even the most effective ones give 90% protection so it is as important to prevent mosquito bites in the first place.

• Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are more likely to bite;
• Wear clothes that cover the skin;
• Use insect repellents (DEET);
• Use an insecticide spray in your bedroom and sleep under an insecticide impregnated net.

Always get expert advice on what drugs to take to prevent malaria.

Remember that there are different drugs that can be used, and if one type disagrees with you then others can be used.

The worst thing is to take nothing. And believe me, patients of mine who have had malaria come back and ask for the best anti-malarial available every time. You could definitely say once bitten twice shy.

So when you read a health scare article always try to find out the other side of the coin before you go risking another potentially fatal route, or better still ask a doctor!