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The FIFA World Cup during 2014 will take place in Brazil from June 12th until July 13th, with the opening match taking place in Sao Paulo. However many group games will be taking place in areas that are known for having a Malaria, and other health risks. England's first game at the 2014 FIFA World Cup will take place at the Areana da Amazonia which is north of the city of Manaus. This area carries a high risk of Malaria, especially during the months of June & July. Other health risks that could occur will depend on other destinations you are travelling to, and the amount of time you plan on spending in Brazil.
Before you travel to Brazil, you will need to decide which malaria tablets you will be taking, there are various types of anti-malaria tablets available, each with a different course length and with different side effects. If you are unsure which tablets you will need then visit your GP for advice, or contact us for more information. Currently, the tablets recommended for Brazil are:
It is important to remember that no tablets are better at protecting against Malaria than another, therefore it is best to check all tablets and decide which tablet would be best for you.
The risk of Malaria is a risk within Brazil throughout the year in areas below 900m within the states of Amazonia, with transmission the highest in the jungle, mining, and agricultural areas and in some peripheral urban areas of Cruzeiro do sol, Manaus and Porto Velho. There generally tends to be a minimal risk within popular tourist destinations such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, however, if you are heading into the Amazonia, or for a cruise up the Amazon then you will need to take precautions against malaria.
You should ensure you continue to take the full course of malaria tablets that have been recommended, even if you are in the malaria risk zone for a few hours. Depending on the tablets you take, the tablets need to be taken between 2 and 10 days before entering the risk zone, and 7 to 28 days after you return.
World Cup Venues:
The locations of the majority of the stadiums being used for the FIFA World Cup in Brazil are out of the Malaria risk zone, however it is still advisable to take precautions, especially if you plan of travelling around other parts of Brazil. For more information regarding the stadiums, visit the FIFA World Cup destination guide.
For more information regarding the risk of Malaria in Brazil and vaccination requirements, visit the Brazil information page.
Other Health Risks:
As well as a risk of Malaria within Brazil, there are other health risks, such as Yellow Fever, Rabies and Dengue Fever. Currently, there are 12 different stadiums being used that are at risk of Yellow Fever. Travelpharm provide Yellow Fever vaccination at various location throughout the East Midlands. Brazil is also widely recognised as a high risk for Rabies, however, this is only in remote and rural areas, therefore if you plan on exploring Brazil it would be advisable to be vaccinated against Rabies. Dengue Fever was a major problem for Brazil during 2013, there were over 1.4million suspected cases recorded nationally. There are a number of stadiums that will carry risk, especially in the northeast region, these include Fortaleza (Ceara state), Natal (Rio Grande Do Norte state), Recife (Pernambuco state) and Salvador (Bahia state). There is currently no vaccination against Dengue Fever, therefore you should take steps to avoid mosquito bites.
As well as Malaria tablets and vaccinations against Yellow Fever, there are other precautions you should take to protect yourself when visiting Brazil, for more information, advice and tips, then visit our How to avoid insect and mosquito bites page. Upon returning to the UK, if you feel unwell with flu-like symptoms, then you should visit your GP, the symptoms of Malaria and Yellow Fever are similar to those of the flu, for example, fever, headaches, chills, vomiting, muscle pain and diarrhoea. Symptoms normally occur around 7 days after being infected, however, in some cases, Malaria symptoms have been known to appear up to a year after being infected.
Further Information:
For more information regarding health and well being at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, we recommended viewing the following pages: