Malaria

Fact sheet - Health conditions directory

Malaria is caused by a parasite which is spread through the bite of particular types of mosquito (Anopheles species). There are five types of malaria parasites. The type called falciparum malaria is particularly dangerous because unless treated promptly it can cause severe illness and even death. Australia was certified as being malaria free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. However, several hundred imported cases of malaria are recorded in Australia each year. Travellers to regions where malaria is present need to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, and often anti-malarial drugs, to prevent malaria.

Malaria occurs in many countries but the regions of greatest risk to Australians include

• the south-west Pacific (Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu)
• Asia (in particular parts of Thailand, Myanmar, Sabah, Vietnam and India)
• Africa (with the East African countries posing a very high risk).

Travellers should get advice on anti-malarial drugs from their doctor before departure. Visitors to resort areas and major cities in Southeast Asia do not usually require anti-malaria drugs. However, even short term visitors to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (including Port Moresby and Honiara) should take anti-malaria drugs.

• Read Queensland Health guidelines for public health units

Notification

Pathology laboratories

• Notification criteria for pathology laboratories (PDF, 55kB)
• Notification procedure

Notification resources

• List of all Pathological, clinical and provisional diagnosis notifiable conditions
• List of Public Health Unit contacts
• Notifiable conditions report form for Queensland doctors/clinicians (PHA S70) or person in charge of a Hospital (PHA S71) (PDF, 77kB) - if faxing notification, follow up by phone.

Enhanced surveillance for public health units

• Management of community outbreaks and epidemics of malaria in the Torres Strait (PDF, 506kB) – these Queensland Government guidelines are primarily written for the Torres Strait context, but could be used as a starting point for any malaria outbreak in northern Australia.

• Mosquito borne diseases – Queensland Health website for health professionals.

• View communicable diseases data for notifiable conditions in Queensland.