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Malaria Donating blood is simple Component donation Donor Award Scheme FAQs More information Malaria Malaria is very common in many tropical countries. It is estimated that 500 million people worldwide are infected. Of these, more than 1 million die each year and the majority of these are children. There is no risk of catching malaria in the United Kingdom but each year 2000 – 2500 people are diagnosed who have contracted the disease abroad. Malaria is a parasitic infection, which is carried in the red blood cells of humans. It is transmitted from person to person by the bites of Anopheles mosquitoes and can also be transmitted by blood transfusion from an infected donor. The risk of contracting malaria is reduced by using measures to avoid mosquito bites such as insect repellent and night netting, and by taking antimalaria medication (as advised by your doctor). Despite taking all such sensible precautions, visitors to many tropical areas remain at some risk from malaria. This is why blood donors are always asked about travel to malarial areas of the world before they donate. Who is at risk? Most people are considered to be at risk for 12 months after return to the UK from a malarial area. This is the period during which they would be expected to become unwell if they are infected with the malaria parasite. However, people who have been exposed to malaria for extended periods of time, in countries where infected mosquitoes are present, may acquire a partial resistance to malaria infection. This can reduce symptoms whenever the infection is contracted again in later life. These people may appear well but nevertheless may carry the parasite in their blood for many years after return to the UK. Similarly, people who have a history of malaria in the past may continue to carry the parasite in their blood for many years without showing any symptoms. The test The National Blood Service uses a test which looks for antibodies to the malaria parasite in blood donations. This test is called the Malaria Antibody Test (MAT). Anyone who has visted a malarial area of the world can come to donate blood 6 months after their return to the UK, when the test can be performed. However, UK legislation means that anyone who has had malaria has to wait 3 years before a test can be carried out. This also applies to anyone who has had a fever which may have been malaria. The test will be carried out on blood donations from anyone whose travel history indicates that they could have caught malaria. Early infections may be missed because the antibody level is not yet high enough for the test to detect it. Therefore, the test must be carried out at least 6 months after return to the UK from a malarial area or 3 years after having had malaria. A negative MAT means that the blood can safely be used for transfusion to patients. A positive MAT usually means the person has had malaria in the past. Only in very rare cases would a positive test result mean that the donor is currently infected with malaria, but to be on the safe side we cannot use his/her blood. Any donor with a confirmed positive MAT will be contacted by one of our doctors and given appropriate clinical advice. Donating after visiting a malarial country If you have travelled to a country with malaria you can donate providing at least 6 months have passed since your return to the UK. If you have had malaria, please wait 3 years after you have fully recovered before donating blood. If you subsequently visit a country with malaria, please wait a further 6 months before attending. To find out whether we can accept a donation on a particular date, please ring our donor helpline 0845 7 711 711. If you need any more information or advice after reading this leaflet, please ring our donor helpline on 0845 7 711 711 (please state that you have a malaria query). Our helpline is open for general enquiries 24 hours a day, every day of the year. If you have a non-urgent medical enquiry, please try to contact us between 9.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. If you have given blood and you become unwell (except for a cold) in the 2 weeks following your donation, ring our Donor Helpline on 0845 7 711 711 as soon as possible. INF/MED/CM/005/06 LC322P 11/09/06 Updated 11th September 2006 Malaria PDF Malaria PDF (Welsh) To download Adobe Acrobat Reader please click here. View Current Blood Stocks Privacy & Legals notice RETURN TO TOP OF PAGE |