Reassurance over Greece malaria scare

26/08/11

Shane Gladstone

Tourists heading to Greece have been advised that the risk of them catching malaria remains low.

The call came from officials at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) after six cases of the illness were confirmed in the country since June.

The HPA said that all the people affected had not travelled to a country commonly associated with malaria. It is third year in a row that Greece has seen cases linked to local transmission.

A spokeswoman said there had been no deaths at this stage and that the patients - five Greek adults and one Roma child - were recovering.

The cases were identified in Laconia in the south and Evoia in the east - both of which are now under surveillance by authorities.

Professor David Hill, director of the HPA's National Travel Health Network and Centre, said: "There is no need to take anti-malarials when visiting this country. But the recent cases of malaria in Greece reinforce the importance of taking precautions against being bitten while on holiday."