Ghana is a popular African destination for UK travellers especially those who plan to visit friends and relatives. Travelpharm have put together an essential read for all those Ghanain travellers about the risk of malaria, what anti-malaria tablets are suitable and what vaccinations are required.
The risk of contracting malaria in Ghana is high. Malaria is endemic to Ghana and transmitted all year round. Our friends at TravelHealthPro have put together a handy malaria risk map of Ghana.
According to CDC the mix of malaria parasites is approximately 95% Falciparum Malaria with 5% Ovale Malaria. Falciparum Malaria is the type that tends to be deadly and because of this, we recommended the following malaria tablets, even to those from Ghana who are visiting friends and relatives.
› Atovaquone and Proguanil 250mg/100mg- Generic Alternative to Malarone
› Malarone Tablets
› Malarone Children's Tablets (for Children under 40kg weight)
› Doxycycline Capsules
› Lariam Tablets (Mefloquine 250mg)
› Maloff Protect
Travelpharm are specialists with malaria tablets and our pharmacist prescriber is happy to answer any questions you might have about preventing a malaria infection on your next trip to Ghana.
Not got a prescription? Whilst most of the above malaria tablets are prescription-only our in-house prescriber can take care of the prescribing for you. Simply fill out one of the online consultations, and if there are any issues one of our team will be in touch.
Unfortunately, malaria isn't the only disease that biting insects like mosquitoes can spread. Typically mosquitoes and biting flies in Ghana are likely to carry other diseases like African trypanosomiasis, yellow fever, chikungunya virus, dengue fever and many more weird and wonderful tropical diseases. It is for these reasons that you should not only take anti-malaria medicines but also prevent unwanted bites by sleeping under mosquito nets and wearing insect repellent.
Bite avoidance is the only true way to prevent unwanted disease.
Below is a table designed to show you what vaccines are mandatory, recommended or ones to consider when visiting Ghana:
| Cholera | Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B | Japanese Encephalitis | Meningitis | Rabies |
| Con | Rec | Con | Con | Con |
| Tetanus | Tick-Borne Encephalitis | Typhoid | Yellow Fever Vaccine | ||
| Rec | Rec | Man |
Man = Mandatory
Con = Consider
Rec = Recommended
Req = Required if visiting from an area with risk of transmission
Information Reviewed by Andrew Walton MPharm our Superintendent Pharmacist on: 30/4/2021
