Malaria symptoms

Malaria is a serious illness caused by a parasite (a tiny organism that lives inside your body) spread through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. It is found mostly in tropical parts of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. US travelers who visit these regions without taking preventive medication face a real risk of infection, and because malaria can become life-threatening within 24 hours if left untreated, preparation before your trip is essential.

How to prevent malaria

Malaria prevention for travelers relies on two main strategies: taking prescription preventive medication (called malaria prophylaxis) and avoiding mosquito bites. No malaria vaccine is currently approved for routine use in US adult travelers, though research is ongoing.

The most commonly prescribed preventive medications for travelers include atovaquone-proguanil (brand name Malarone), doxycycline, and mefloquine. The right choice depends on your destination, your health history, and the length of your trip. According to NIH StatPearls, atovaquone-proguanil should be started one to two days before travel, taken daily during travel, and continued for seven days after leaving a malaria-risk area. The CDC Yellow Book notes that doxycycline should be taken once daily during travel and continued for four weeks after leaving.

Bite prevention is equally important. Use a DEET or picaridin-based insect repellent on exposed skin, treat clothing with permethrin, sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets, and wear long sleeves and pants in the evenings when mosquitoes are most active. The WHO recommends combining medication with these physical barriers for the best protection. Talk to a travel health provider before your trip to choose the right medication for your specific itinerary.

WayPax Health recommendation

For travelers heading to malaria-risk destinations, including adventure travelers, safari-goers, backpackers, and anyone spending time in rural or tropical areas, WayPax Health stocks both doxycycline 100 mg and atovaquone-proguanil 250/100 mg as part of the Malaria Prevention Kit. A licensed WayPax provider will review your full itinerary, discuss which option fits your health profile and travel plans, and write a real prescription online, with no clinic visit required. This is the same level of personalized travel health care you would get at a traditional travel clinic, done entirely from your phone or computer. Getting your malaria prescription through WayPax before you leave is one of the most straightforward steps you can take to protect yourself on your trip.

Get your Malaria prescription and other travel medicines online today.

What is malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, tiny organisms that enter your bloodstream through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. According to the WHO, there are five species of Plasmodium that infect humans. The two most dangerous are P. falciparum, which is the deadliest and most common in Africa, and P. vivax, which dominates in most regions outside sub-Saharan Africa.

The most common early malaria symptoms are fever, headache, and chills. The WHO notes that symptoms usually begin within 10 to 15 days of being bitten. Mild cases can also include fatigue, muscle aches, and nausea. If the infection is not treated quickly, it can progress to severe illness, including confusion, seizures, difficulty breathing, and organ failure. The CDC warns that P. falciparum malaria can become life-threatening within 24 hours if left untreated. Malaria can also spread through blood transfusions and contaminated needles, though mosquito bites are by far the most common route. NIH research confirms that travelers with no prior immunity are at the highest risk of severe disease.

Where is malaria a risk?

Malaria is found in tropical and subtropical regions around the world where the Anopheles mosquito can survive and breed. According to the WHO, the African continent carries the heaviest burden by far. In 2024, the WHO African Region accounted for 95% of all malaria cases and 95% of all malaria deaths globally.

Beyond Africa, malaria transmission also occurs across large parts of South and Southeast Asia, including areas of the Indian subcontinent and the islands of the western Pacific. Parts of Central America, South America, and the Caribbean also have active transmission, particularly in rural, forested, and low-lying areas where mosquitoes breed in standing water.

Risk is not uniform within any region. Urban areas generally carry lower risk than rural ones. Altitude also matters: transmission is rare above 2,000 meters (about 6,500 feet) because mosquitoes cannot survive in cold temperatures. Seasonal rainfall patterns affect risk too, with transmission often peaking during and just after rainy seasons when mosquito populations are highest. Travelers should check destination-specific risk levels with a travel health provider before departure, as conditions can change.

Treatment: what to do if you get malaria

Malaria is treatable, but treatment must begin quickly. If you develop fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms during or after travel to a malaria-risk area, seek medical care right away and tell your doctor where you have traveled. Do not wait to see if symptoms improve on their own.

Treatment depends on which Plasmodium species caused the infection and whether the parasite is resistant to certain drugs. The WHO notes that prompt treatment can stop mild cases from becoming life-threatening. NIH research confirms that doxycycline is also used as a treatment option in some cases. Warning signs that require emergency care include confusion, difficulty breathing, seizures, and inability to keep fluids down. If you experience any of these, go to an emergency room immediately. A provider will determine the right treatment based on your test results and travel history.

Frequently asked questions

What are the symptoms of malaria in travelers?

The most common early symptoms are fever, chills, and headache, which can feel similar to the flu. According to the WHO, symptoms usually appear within 10 to 15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. More serious symptoms include confusion, seizures, and difficulty breathing, which require emergency care right away. Any traveler who develops a fever during or after travel to a malaria-risk area should see a doctor immediately and mention their travel history.

How can I prevent malaria when I travel?

The two main ways to prevent malaria are taking a prescription preventive medication before and during your trip, and protecting yourself from mosquito bites. Repellents containing DEET or picaridin, permethrin-treated clothing, and insecticide-treated bed nets all help reduce your risk. Research published in NIH confirms that malaria chemoprophylaxis (preventive medication) is an effective way to prevent both illness and death in travelers. Talk to a travel health provider before your trip to get the right prescription for your destination.

Is there a malaria vaccine for travel?

There is currently no malaria vaccine approved for routine use in US adult travelers. Vaccine research is ongoing, but for now, prescription preventive medications remain the standard approach for travelers. Your travel health provider can walk you through all available options based on where you are going and how long you will be there.

Where is malaria a risk for US travelers?

Malaria is a risk in many tropical and subtropical parts of the world, including sub-Saharan Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and parts of the Caribbean. The WHO reports that the African region carries the highest burden, accounting for 95% of global cases in 2024. Risk varies by country, region, and season, so checking with a travel health provider before your trip is the best way to understand your specific risk.

Can I get malaria pills for travel?

Yes. Malaria prevention pills require a prescription from a licensed provider. WayPax Health is a full virtual travel clinic where you can get a real prescription for malaria preventive medication online, without visiting a clinic in person. A licensed WayPax provider will review your itinerary and health history, then recommend and prescribe the right medication for your trip. You can complete the entire process from home and have your prescription sent directly to your pharmacy.

How is malaria treated?

Malaria is treated with prescription antimalarial medications, and the specific drug used depends on the type of malaria parasite and where you were infected. The WHO emphasizes that treatment must begin as soon as possible to prevent mild cases from becoming severe. If you develop symptoms during or after travel to a risk area, go to a doctor or emergency room right away and tell them where you traveled. Do not attempt to self-treat without medical guidance.

Is malaria contagious from person to person?

No. Malaria does not spread from person to person through casual contact, coughing, or sneezing. According to the WHO, the infection is caused by a parasite and is spread almost entirely through the bite of infected Anopheles mosquitoes. In rare cases, malaria can also be transmitted through blood transfusions or contaminated needles, but this is uncommon. You cannot catch malaria from being near someone who has it.

Explore by region

Sub-Saharan Africa

• Kenya
• Tanzania
• Ghana
• Senegal
• Mali
• Cameroon
• Mozambique
• Zambia
• Malawi
• Zimbabwe
• Madagascar
• Guinea
• Sierra Leone
• Liberia
• Burkina Faso
• Togo
• Benin
• Gambia
• Mauritania
• Djibouti
• Sudan
• Central African Republic
• Congo
• South Africa
• Botswana
• Eswatini

South and Southeast Asia

• Bangladesh
• Laos
• Malaysia
• Maldives

Latin America and the Caribbean

• Brazil
• Panama
• Guatemala
• Haiti

Related diseases

• Dengue fever: also spread by mosquito bites in many of the same tropical regions as malaria.
• Yellow fever: a mosquito-borne illness common in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South America, with a vaccine required for entry to some countries.
• Chikungunya: another mosquito-transmitted virus found across Africa, Asia, and the Americas.
• Zika: a mosquito-borne virus with serious risks for pregnant travelers, found in many overlapping regions.
• Leishmaniasis: a parasitic disease spread by sandfly bites in tropical and subtropical areas where malaria also occurs.