If you’re planning a trip to a region where malaria is present, it’s normal to have questions—and concerns. One of the most common myths we hear at Vivo Pharmacy’s travel clinic is: is malaria contagious?

The short answer is no, malaria is not contagious in the way that colds or flu are. But let’s break it down properly.

To help clear up the confusion, we’ve put together this fact vs fiction guide, so you can understand how malaria spreads, what the real risks are, and how to protect yourself with confidence.

Fiction: You can catch malaria from another person through casual contact.

Fact: You cannot catch malaria by being near someone who has it.

Malaria is not airborne. It doesn’t spread through coughing, sneezing, hugging, sharing food, or physical contact. Unlike viruses such as COVID-19 or flu, malaria requires a specific method of transmission: a bite from an infected mosquito.

If someone you’re travelling with becomes unwell with malaria, they pose no infection risk to you unless a mosquito bites them and then bites you—an extremely unlikely scenario in well-managed environments.

Fiction: You can catch malaria through blood contact during daily activities.

Fact: Malaria can be transmitted through blood—but only in rare medical settings.

Malaria can be passed via blood transfusion, organ transplant, or shared needles. These are rare circumstances, and not relevant to everyday travel scenarios. Blood transmission risk is highest in areas where medical screening is poor or infection control standards are lacking.

You cannot catch malaria through sharing towels, bathrooms, eating utensils, or by touching open wounds casually.

Fiction: Mosquitoes spread malaria everywhere.

Fact: Only specific mosquitoes in specific regions carry the malaria parasite.

Malaria is spread by the female Anopheles mosquito, and only in regions where the Plasmodium parasite is present. These regions include large parts of:

• –> Sub-Saharan Africa

• –> South and Southeast Asia

• –> Central and South America

• –> Parts of the Middle East and Pacific islands

If you’re travelling to one of these areas, a travel health consultation is essential to determine your risk and whether antimalarial medication is needed.

Fiction: Taking antimalarial tablets isn’t necessary if you’re careful with repellent.

Fact: Repellents help—but medication is your strongest protection.

Using insect repellent and wearing long sleeves is a good start, but it’s not enough on its own. If you’re travelling to a high-risk area, you should speak to a travel health professional about antimalarial tablets. These medications work by stopping the malaria parasite from developing in your body if you’re bitten.

At Vivo Pharmacy in Bristol, we provide personalised travel health consultations, including advice on antimalarial prescriptions tailored to your destination, health status, and trip length.

Fiction: If you feel fine after your trip, you don’t have malaria.

Fact: Symptoms of malaria can take weeks to appear.

Some strains of malaria have an incubation period of 7 to 30 days, and in some cases, even longer. That means you could feel perfectly well for days or weeks after returning, only to fall ill later. If you’ve travelled to a malaria-prone area and develop fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms—even months later—it’s vital to seek medical attention and mention your travel history.

How We Can Help at Vivo Pharmacy

At Vivo Pharmacy, we provide a full range of travel health services to help you prepare for safe, healthy trips abroad. Whether you’re heading to Ghana, India, Thailand, or South America, our team offers:

• –> Malaria risk assessments and prescriptions for antimalarial medication

• –> Mosquito bite prevention advice, including suitable repellents

• –> Vaccinations for travel-related illnesses

• –> Traveller’s diarrhoea treatment kits to help manage the common symptom on the go

We’ll help you understand the risks, stay protected, and feel confident before you travel.

Malaria Isn’t Contagious, But It Is Preventable

So, is malaria contagious? Not in the way most people fear. You cannot catch it from casual contact with another person. But it can be deadly if you don’t take the right precautions.

If you’re planning to travel to a malaria-prone area, speak to our team at Vivo Pharmacy in Bristol. We’ll help you stay ahead of potential health issues—whether it’s malaria, travel medication, or treatment for traveller’s diarrhoea.

Contact our team or drop in to chat to us in person – and travel with peace of mind, knowing you’re protected from the risks you can control.

This blog was written on behalf of Vivo Pharmacy by Pharmacy Mentor.