Malaria Prevention
Malaria Prevention Brisbane
Malaria is a serious and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, which are transmitted to humans through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Australia was certified as being malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1981. However, it remains a significant health risk in many tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.Â
While a malaria vaccine is not currently available in Australia, there are effective preventive measures, including antimalarial medications, that may help reduce your risk. At Narangba Station Medical Centre, our GPs provide personalised travel health consultations to assess your needs and advise on whether antimalarial medicines and other preventive strategies are suitable for you.
Book a Consultation today.
Protect yourself before you travel—book a consultation with our team today. To schedule your consultation, call us on (07) 3521 4333, click below to book online, or download the AMS Connect app.
Opening Hours
We're open 7 days a week with late-night availability on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Weekend appointments are also available to all patients.
Prepare for Safe Travels
Malaria poses a significant risk to travellers visiting endemic regions, particularly in rural or forested areas where mosquito populations are abundant. If you’re planning a trip to a high-risk area, a consultation with our GPs will help you understand your risk and develop a comprehensive protection plan tailored to your destination.
Where is Malaria found?
Malaria is primarily found in tropical and subtropical regions, including:
- Sub-Saharan Africa (where the risk is highest)
- Parts of Asia, including India and Southeast Asia
- Central and South America
- Eastern Europe
- South Pacific
Areas with stagnant water, dense vegetation, or warm climates are particularly prone to mosquito activity. It’s important to take preventive steps if your travel plans include any of these regions.
To reduce your risk:
- Speak to our GPs about whether antimalarial medications are appropriate.
- Use insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin.
- Sleep under insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
- Wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers in mosquito-prone areas.
Our doctors at Narangba Station Medical Centre are here to help you stay informed and prepared for your trip.
How is Malaria spread?
Malaria is transmitted through the bites of female Anopheles mosquitoes infected with Plasmodium parasites. Once bitten, the parasites enter the bloodstream and travel to the liver, where they multiply before infecting red blood cells. Malaria cannot be spread from person to person, but it can be transmitted through blood transfusions or sharing needles in rare cases.
Preventive medications and personal protective measures are essential for reducing your risk of infection.
Malaria Symptoms
Despite all precautions, malaria can still occur and it’s important for you to familiarise yourself with symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, and muscle aches, which may appear 7–30 days after a mosquito bite. Sometimes symptoms develop weeks or months after infection.Â
The most common symptoms of malaria include:
- High fever and chills
- Sweating and fatigue
- Muscle aches or joint pain
- Headache
- Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea
In severe cases, malaria can cause complications such as breathing difficulty, organ failure, cerebral malaria, or anaemia, which can be life-threatening without prompt treatment.
Long-Term Complications
If left untreated, malaria can lead to serious complications, such as:
- Cerebral Malaria: A severe form of the disease that affects the brain, leading to seizures, confusion, or coma.
- Organ Damage: The disease can harm vital organs such as the liver, kidneys, or lungs.
- Anaemia: Due to the destruction of red blood cells, severe anaemia can occur.
Taking proactive measures, including antimalarial medications and personal protection, is key to reducing these risks.
Schedule a consultation with our experienced team at Narangba Station Medical Centre to receive a personalised travel health plan based on your travel itinerary.
Malarone Tablets for Convenient Malaria Prevention
NSMC now stocks Malarone (atovaquone-proguanil) tablets for malaria prevention. This prescription medication is highly effective when taken as directed before, during, and after travel to malaria-risk regions. By offering these tablets in-clinic, we make it simple for patients to start their malaria prevention regimen without delay.
How to Protect Yourself Against Malaria?
Protecting yourself against malaria involves a combination of prevention measures to minimise your exposure and reduce your chances of infection. Avoiding areas where mosquitoes are known to swarm or be in large numbers, such as areas with lots of standing water, grassy areas, swamps, marshes, or other wetlands can help.
However, if you must visit these locations below are some tips to protect against malaria.
1. Sleep Under a Mosquito Net
Sleeping under a mosquito net is a simple yet very effective method of protection from mosquitoes, and is especially helpful if you are travelling or camping in an area where malaria is present and there is no screened-in accommodation, especially in rural or more remote areas.
2. Use Insect Repellent
Wearing insect repellent on exposed skin and clothes, using a high-quality DEET or picaridin-based formula and reapplying frequently can help protect against bites in mosquito-infested areas.
Repellents come in various forms and some work better than others. Read and follow the instructions on the label. They are usually effective for a few hours and need to be reapplied regularly, particularly if you are sweating or after washing or swimming.
3. Take Antimalarial Medication
Antimalarial drugs can reduce your risk of contracting malaria, but will not prevent mosquito bites. You should take an antimalarial drug that is effective in the country you will be visiting and that is appropriate for your personal health needs, as discussed with your doctor. Make sure to take it as prescribed, starting and continuing for the recommended duration after you leave the malaria area.
4. Avoid Stagnant Water
Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so avoid places where there is a lot of stagnant water around, like lakes, ponds or uncovered water containers. You may want to drain or empty out any standing water sources around your home to keep mosquitoes from breeding there.
5. Stay Indoor During Peak Mosquito Hours
Peak mosquito activity is from dusk to dawn. This is when most people choose to be inside, as it is also bedtime. By sleeping indoors under a mosquito net or inside a screened-in structure, one can greatly decrease the chances of being bitten.
In areas where malaria is known to be present, this is essential, as it is simply not worth the risk to be outside during these hours. If you have to be outdoors, reapply insect repellent frequently and wear long sleeves, long pants and socks.
6. Wear Protective Clothing
Long sleeves, long pants and socks can greatly reduce the amount of exposed skin on the body and decrease the chance of being bitten. In areas where malaria is present, wearing a long-sleeved shirt and long pants is very important. Lighter-colored clothes are also better than dark.
Fees & Process
Anti-malaria medication and any other medications subscribed are generally privately billed, with detailed costs discussed during your initial consultation.Â
During this consultation, your doctor will review your medical history, evaluate your risk of exposure, and recommend a travel health schedule tailored to your needs. The process involves a comprehensive consultation, prescribing medication and vaccinations as needed, and personalised advice on protecting yourself from malaria, particularly if you’re travelling to high-risk areas.
We aim to make the vaccination process smooth and hassle-free, so you can focus on planning your trip. To book your consultation, call us at (07) 3521 4333Â or book online today.
For a detailed overview of all our practice fees, please visit our Fees page.
Why Choose NSMC?
Conveniently located next to Narangba Train Station, NSMC combines accessibility, affordability, and high-quality medical services to meet the diverse healthcare needs of north Brisbane residents. Our experience medical team, led by Dr. Madhu Lakshmaiah, ensures personalized, patient-centered care with holistic solutions to a variety of health concerns. We're open 7 days a week with after-hours availability and our patients also benefit from the convenience of on-site blood tests, free parking, and proximity to a local pharmacy.Â
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have questions about preventative care and medication available for Malaria? No problem! Here are the most commonly asked questions our GPs receive about Malaria Prevention in Brisbane.
Antimalarial medications are recommended for travellers heading to regions where malaria is prevalent, including parts of Africa, Asia, South America, and the Pacific. Our experienced GPs will assess your travel destination, the time of year, and your overall health to determine whether antimalarial medication is necessary for your trip. This personalised approach ensures you receive the most appropriate protection.
The side effects of antimalarial medications can vary depending on the type prescribed. Common side effects may include nausea, dizziness, stomach upset, or vivid dreams, though not everyone experiences them. Your GP will take your medical history and any existing conditions into account to recommend the medication that is best suited to your needs, minimising the risk of side effects wherever possible.
Yes, certain antimalarial medications are safe and effective for children. Protecting children is especially important, as they can be more vulnerable to malaria. Our caring GPs will evaluate your child’s age, weight, and health status to determine the most suitable medication and dosage to keep them safe during your travels.
While antimalarial medication is a crucial part of malaria prevention, additional measures are just as important. Use insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin, wear long-sleeved clothing and trousers to minimise exposed skin, and sleep under mosquito nets treated with insecticide. Avoid staying near stagnant water, as mosquitoes breed in these environments, and try to remain indoors during peak mosquito activity hours from dusk to dawn.
Malaria is not endemic in Australia thanks to the country's advanced public health systems. However, cases do occur in people returning from high-risk regions or in rare instances of imported infections. If you’re travelling to or returning from an area where malaria is present, it’s vital to remain vigilant and seek medical advice promptly if symptoms develop.
To ensure you have enough time to plan and prepare for your trip, it’s advisable to book your travel consultation at least 4–6 weeks before departure. This allows time for your GP to discuss any required antimalarial prescriptions, address vaccination needs, and provide tailored travel advice based on your destination. For last-minute travel, consultations can still be arranged, but early planning is ideal for comprehensive protection.
Contact & Bookings
To make an appointment, please call reception or use our online booking system via the button below. You can also visit our contact page to see further details about our location and directions.
Bookings are available from as early as 7AM on weekdays and Saturday. We are also open Sunday afternoon and late evening on Tuesday and Thursday until 8:30PM.Â
Can't find us? - We are situated across the road from Narangba Train Station next to the Narangba Village shopping complex. Look for signs for Narangba Health Centre and IGA.
Serving patients in Narangba, Burpengary, Dakabin, Deception Bay, Morayfield, North Lakes and North Brisbane surrounds