Brits are being warned to take specific precautions before travelling abroad amid a steep rise in two potentially dangerous diseases. Doctor Shreya Singhal, shared her recommendations for staying safe on holiday this year in a UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) update. Her advice comes as the latest figures have shown a rise in measles and malaria, illnesses that can both prove fatal if not caught early.
Firstly, Dr Singhal urged people to make sure they are up to date with vaccinations to protect you and your family from measles as well as other risky diseases. “It is vital to ensure you are up to date with your vaccinations before you travel, both for your protection and for the benefit of the health of those around you,” she said.
“Many countries have different diseases circulating and some of these could potentially be dangerous. It’s possible to pick up an illness that we don’t routinely see in the UK, and important to remember that some can have serious consequences for vulnerable people.”
She continued: “The measles virus is currently circulating in the UK and it is even more common in some parts of Africa, Asia and mainland Europe, so please check that you and your family are up to date with your MMR vaccines.”
Diagnoses of measles have seen a sharp uptick in the UK this year. As per data from UKHSA, there have been 1,767 lab-confirmed cases of measles nationwide in 2024 so far. This is almost five times the amount of cases reported for the whole of 2023, when there were 362.
Dr Singhal said: “The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is normally given in childhood, but if you or anyone in your family has not had the MMR, you can catch up at any time.
“The MMR is available to all adults and children who are not up to date with their two doses. It is essential that you take both doses – finishing the full course offers lifetime protection from measles for most people.”
Initial symptoms of measles can be easily mistaken for a cold or flu and include a fever, a runny or blocked nose, sneezing, a cough and red, watery eyes. The affected person might then display tiny white spots on the inside of their cheeks, followed by a rash on the body.
In extreme cases measles can lead to pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures, according to the NHS. If you are not sure if you have had the vaccine, you can check with your GP practice or arrange a travel clinic appointment.
Dr Singhal further advised holidaymakers to take malaria prevention tablets if visiting certain countries. Earlier this year the UKHSA revealed that imported malaria cases in the UK had exceeded 2,000 for the first time in more than 20 years.
In 2023, there were 2,004 cases of malaria confirmed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland following travel abroad, compared to 1,369 in 2022. The UKHSA reported: “The rise is linked to the resurgence of malaria in many countries and an increase in overseas travel following the removal of pandemic restrictions.”
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that can be passed to humans by mosquitoes. Symptoms can be non-specific and flu-like including fever, headache, fatigue, abdominal discomfort and muscle aches, as well as cough and diarrhoea.
The NHS warns that malaria could be prevalent in large areas of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, parts of the Middle East and some Pacific islands.