Risk of malaria according to geographic region

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Risk of malaria according to geographic region

Your risk of getting malaria depends on where you are traveling. The most accurate information about the risk of malaria in specific countries is available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

The risk is highest in sub-Saharan Africa, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the Amazon and Orinoco basins of South America.
The risk is medium in Haiti and the Indian subcontinent.
The risk is low in most of Southeast Asia and Latin America.

Malaria infections caused by certain parasites are more common in some areas of the world.¹

Plasmodium (P.) falciparum causes most of the malaria infections in tropical Africa, eastern Asia, Oceania, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Amazon River basin area of South America.
P. vivax causes most of the malaria infections in Central America, the Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia.

References

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Citations
Baird JK, Hoffman SL (1999). Prevention of malaria in travelers. Medical Clinics of North America, 83(4): 923–944.

Credits

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Author	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Editor	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA
Associate Editor	Denele Ivins
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Last Updated	May 16, 2007

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Last updated:	May 16, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Martin Gabica, MD - Family Medicine, W. David Colby IV, MSc, MD, FRCPC - Infectious Disease
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Pat Truman, MATC

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