Malaria
On this page, you can read all about the disease malaria and easily apply for preventive medication. Are you travelling to a region where you are at risk of malaria? Then schedule your appointment at one of our locations in good time and receive a fully personalised vaccination and medication advice. Do you only want to request malaria medication? That too is possible.
What is malaria?
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that enter the body through a mosquito bite. The mosquito is thus the transmitter of the parasite from one human to another. The parasite is a single-celled organism, belonging to the protozoa. It is therefore not a bacterium or virus. In humans, malaria parasites multiply first in the liver and then in red blood cells.
Where does malaria occur?
Malaria occurs in (sub)tropical areas with warm and humid climates. It occurs mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 90% of global malaria cases occur. In addition, malaria also occurs in South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, parts of Central America and some islands in Oceania. In higher elevations above 1,500 metres and temperate climates, malaria does not usually occur. In Europe, North America and large parts of the Middle East, malaria is virtually absent.
Symptoms and risks
Malaria often starts with symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle aches, headache and sometimes nausea or diarrhoea. These symptoms initially resemble a common flu, but can quickly worsen. Without treatment, malaria can lead to serious complications such as organ failure, loss of consciousness or, in some cases, death. The disease can manifest within days to weeks of infection. A fever during or after a stay in a high-risk area should always be considered for malaria. Whether you need protection depends on your destination, the duration and nature of the trip, and your personal health. Our clinic provides expert advice and prescribes malaria prophylaxis if necessary.
Medication
Malaria is prevented with tablets instead of vaccinations.
Protection duration
This depends on the type of malaria medicine that suits your trip.
Risk areas
Sub-Saharan Africa (>90%), South and Southeast Asia, Latin America, Central America and some islands in Oceania.
Procedure for malaria medication at Vaccination Point
When you make an appointment at Vaccination Point, you will receive full and personalised advice on the vaccinations and medication required for your trip. Should this advice indicate that malaria medication is required, we kindly ask you to contact us by telephone. During this conversation, we will discuss your travel and health details, after which, if applicable, we will prescribe the required malaria prophylaxis. The medication is usually delivered to your home within five working days.
Are you leaving within five days? Then you can request an emergency prescription. In this case, our medical team will write the prescription for you immediately, so that you can usually collect the medication from your own pharmacy the same day. Please note that there is an increased fee for this.
I only want malaria medication and no vaccination advice
Are you only interested in malaria medication and do not want any Additional travel or vaccination advice? In that case, we kindly ask you to contact us by phone. Our team will go through your details with you and, if necessary, write the required prescription for you.
Costs and fees
When you receive malaria medication, you pay Vaccination Point prescription and consultation fees. You can find the rates on the rates page. You pay the medication costs of the malaria tablets to the supplier eFarma. You will receive a separate invoice for this. Depending on your health insurance, (part of) your appointment may be reimbursed. See our fees page for possible reimbursement through your insurance.
Easily schedule your appointment!
Wondering if you need malaria medication for your trip? Then make an appointment now at a Vaccination Point location near you and get personalised travel and vaccination advice!
- Appointment made in one minute
- Also available evenings and weekends
- Reimbursed via your insurer
- LCR-registered
- 80+ locations in the Netherlands
Frequently asked questions
On the page destinations you can see per country whether malaria occurs in that country. However, for complete and personalised advice, we advise you to make an appointment at one of our locations. Here, our team will look carefully at your file and give you appropriate vaccination and medication advice.
Do you not want to request vaccination advice about your travel destination and only malaria medication? Then you can submit this via our malaria form.
The start and end date of taking malaria medication depends on the type of drug prescribed. In general:
Malarone®: start 1 to 2 days before departure, take daily during the stay, and continue until 7 days after leaving the malaria area.
Lariam®: start 2 to 3 weeks before departure, take weekly, and continue until 4 weeks after leaving the malaria area.
Doxycycline: start 1 to 2 days before departure, take daily, and continue until 4 weeks after leaving the risk area.
Should you qualify for malaria medication, our team will review which schedule is applicable to your trip and personal situation.
There is no malaria vaccine available for travellers in the Netherlands. Vaccination is available in Africa, but protection is limited. For travellers, malaria tablets are the best preventive option and provide reliable and complete protection when used correctly.
Emergency malaria treatment is used when you are in a malaria area and does not have access to medical care within 24 hours after the onset of fever or other malaria symptoms. If this applies to you, our team will of course make sure you get the emergency treatment with you.
There are several ways to prevent malaria, however, we always recommend taking malaria medication when travelling to a high-risk area.
This will help you reduce your risk of malaria:
- Wear long trousers and long sleeves;
- spray 30%-50% DEET on bare skin;
- sleep under a mosquito net;
- Take appropriate malaria drugs.
