Why you could be in danger from Malaria

Mosquitoes bites spread Malaria

About two thousand people each year are diagnosed with malaria - in Britain.

We are apparently the worst people in the world for bringing back the highly dangerous disease from our foreign holidays.

Some of us don't bother to take preventative medication because we're experiencing side effects. And some of us assume that we can re-use old medication from previous trips.

On Breakfast we heard from Dr Rosemary Leonard on how to prevent malaria.

Click here to watch our interview with Dr Rosemary Leonard

Top tips

Well before your holiday, check whether Malaria will be a problem

Don't re-use prescriptions from previous trips abroad. Because of drug resistance, different forms of medication are effective in different parts of the world.

Start taking the tablets a week before you go on holiday - and carry on taking them for a month after you return.

Never stop taking your tablets without advice from a doctor, even if you think you're experiencing side-effects

If you go down with a fever or get other symptoms which could be malaria, call the doctor - and don't forget to tell him you've just come from a malarial region.