Malaria Risk - Malaria Areas in Latin America

Malaria is a serious disease, common in tropical areas, which can prove to be fatal.

The disease is carried by infected mosquitoes that infect you when they bite.

Malaria risk is fairly high throughout the Caribbean, Central America and areas of South America.

Symptoms

The symptoms of malaria include a fever most commonly, as well as chills, headache, muscle ache, tiredness and flu-like illness. Many sufferers also experience diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

Symptoms usually begin 10 days to 4 weeks after being infected, however some people start suffering up to a year later. If you have been to a malaria risk area and suffer any of the above symptoms, seek medical assistance and advise your doctor when you were in the malaria risk area.

Malaria risks throughout Latin America are as follows:

ArgentinaRural northwestern areas
BoliviaRural areas below 2500m and amazon basin area
ChileNo risk
Costa RicaRural areas below 500m, Nicaragua border and around Puerto Limon
CubaNo risk
Dominican RepublicRisk throughout country, although less in resorts and east
EcuadorEsmeraldas province and below 1500m
GuatemalaAreas below 1500m and both northern and western regions
MexicoRural areas
PeruRural areas east of Andes, west of Amazon basin and below 1500m

To reduce the risk of malaria, avoid mosquito bites, wear appropriate clothing, use mosquito netting at night, wear repellant and take appropriate medication.