Malaria risk in Zanzibar

Malaria Prevention Guide for Zanzibar

Zanzibar has a malaria risk score of 69 out of 100, meaning the threat is real and ongoing. Malaria is a mosquito-borne illness caused by a parasite transmitted through the bite of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, and fatigue, and severe cases can be fatal without treatment.

Local risk factors in Zanzibar include year-round transmission with peaks during and after the rainy seasons from March to May and October to December. Standing water from rice paddies, coastal humidity, and tropical temperatures create ideal breeding conditions for mosquitoes. Rural areas and locations near wetlands carry higher risk than urban Stone Town, though no area is fully safe.

Five actionable prevention steps.

First, take antimalarial medication as prescribed. Consult a travel health clinic at least four weeks before departure. Common options include atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, and mefloquine. Start before travel, continue during your stay, and finish the full course after returning home.

Second, sleep under a long-lasting insecticide-treated bed net every night, including naps. Check for holes and tuck it tightly under your mattress.

Third, apply DEET-based repellent of at least 20 percent concentration on exposed skin, reapplying every few hours, especially from dusk through dawn when Anopheles mosquitoes are most active.

Fourth, wear long sleeves and long pants during evening hours. Light-colored clothing helps, and permethrin-treated garments add another layer of protection.

Fifth, choose accommodations with air conditioning, screened windows, and indoor residual spraying. If staying in basic lodgings, use a plug-in mosquito vaporizer and eliminate standing water nearby.

Seek immediate medical attention if fever develops during or after your trip, even weeks later. Carry a rapid diagnostic test if traveling remotely. Prevention works when you combine medication, repellent, nets, clothing, and smart lodging choices consistently throughout your stay.