About malaria
Malaria is a disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It causes an infection of the red blood cells that can sometimes be fatal if left untreated. Like many diseases, it is better to prevent it, if possible, than treat it.
Disease type:
Vectorborne
Vaccination available under NIP:
No
Notifiable disease:
Yes
Prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment
Antimalarial medication is recommended prior to travelling to a malaria-infected area. For information about prevention, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment, see healthdirect's malaria page.
Surveillance and reporting
Malaria is a nationally notifiable disease.
We monitor cases through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
For more on malaria in Australia, you can search Communicable Diseases Intelligence.
Date last updated: