THE NUMBER OF malaria cases recorded in Ireland has risen for the third year in a row.
Last year saw 71 cases notified to authorities, an increase of 9 per cent from 2012.
All of the cases were contracted abroad, with the majority of people travelling to visit family in their country of origin.
Almost half of the cases came from Nigeria, where malaria is classed of one of the deadliest diseases.
This comes after a decline of more than 25 per cent in 2011, figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) show.
The authority is highlighting that children can be particular at risk, with 12 paediatric cases recorded last year.
“It is important that persons born in Western and Central Africa who take up residence in Ireland and who return to their country of origin with their Irish-born children are made aware of the fact that their children have no innate immunity to malaria,” Sarah Jackson and Paul McKeown of the HSPC said.
The HSE notes that most cases contracted are due to travellers not taking the correct anti-malaria medication.
No outbreaks have been recorded in Ireland, although the disease killed more than 600,000 people worldwide in 2012.
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