NHS Must Tackle Sharp Rise in Malaria cases in London

2.19.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 13th Oct 2008

Tom Brake MP, Liberal Democrat London Spokesman is calling on the NHS in London to get to grips with a sharp rise in severe Malaria cases in London. His call comes after a parliamentary answer revealed that the number of recorded hospital admissions in London for the most severe form of malaria1 has increased by over 20% in ten years.

The country as a whole is also experiencing a significant increase in malaria cases. According to official figures from the Health Protection Agency nationally, 6,753 cases were diagnosed in the UK between 2002 and 2006. The British Medical Journal also reports that it corresponds to a 30% increase over 15 years.

'These statistics are very worrying and require a strong and coordinated response from the NHS in London.' says Tom Brake.

According to a BBC report, only two-fifths of UK travellers have made any effort to prevent the disease by taking prophylaxis drugs before or during their trip to Africa and Asia.

Tom Brake is writing to NHS London to challenge them on the measures they are taking to give greater publicity to the risk of getting malaria in different parts of the world.