Malaria problems continue in Greece

Travellers heading to Greece and planning to travel outside the capital in the next few weeks should be aware cases of malaria continue to be reported. Some new cases have occurred in areas of Greece where the disease has not previously been reported, including the Attica, Karditsa, Laconia, Viotia, and Xanthi regions.

Cases also have occurred in the cities of Evrotas, Marathon, Markopoulo, and Selino. No cases have been reported in Athens, according to the US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Hellenic (Greek) CDC and the European CDC are improving surveillance for malaria cases. In affected areas, mosquito control has been intensified.

Malaria is a disease spread through the bite of infected mosquitos. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and other symptoms similar to the flu. Left untreated, people with malaria may develop severe complications and die. Malaria is a major health problem that causes 350­500 million infections worldwide and about one million deaths each
year. Malaria occurs in large areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific.

CDC advises travellers to take steps to prevent mosquito bites when traveling in Greece. In addition, because of the recent cases of malaria, CDC recommends that travelers to the agricultural areas of Evrotas take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. CDC says if you are traveling to the affected areas of Evrotas, talk to your doctor about whether you should take medicine to prevent malaria. Whether you need to take medicine will depend on where you are traveling, the length of your trip, your planned activities, your health history, and other medicines you are taking.

More information from cdcinfo@cdc.gov

Malaria problems continue in Greece

Travellers heading to Greece and planning to travel outside the capital in the next few weeks should be aware cases of malaria continue to be reported. Some new cases have occurred in areas of Greece where the disease has not previously been reported, including the Attica, Karditsa, Laconia, Viotia, and Xanthi regions.

Cases also have occurred in the cities of Evrotas, Marathon, Markopoulo, and Selino. No cases have been reported in Athens, according to the US-based Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The Hellenic (Greek) CDC and the European CDC are improving surveillance for malaria cases. In affected areas, mosquito control has been intensified.

Malaria is a disease spread through the bite of infected mosquitos. People with malaria often experience fever, chills, and other symptoms similar to the flu. Left untreated, people with malaria may develop severe complications and die. Malaria is a major health problem that causes 350­500 million infections worldwide and about one million deaths each
year. Malaria occurs in large areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, Eastern Europe, and the South Pacific.

CDC advises travellers to take steps to prevent mosquito bites when traveling in Greece. In addition, because of the recent cases of malaria, CDC recommends that travelers to the agricultural areas of Evrotas take prescription medicine to prevent malaria. CDC says if you are traveling to the affected areas of Evrotas, talk to your doctor about whether you should take medicine to prevent malaria. Whether you need to take medicine will depend on where you are traveling, the length of your trip, your planned activities, your health history, and other medicines you are taking.

More information from cdcinfo@cdc.gov