Surprising news about a traveller to Greece being diagnosed with malaria is emerging.  The traveller, who is from Romania, had a travel history of visiting Greece several times over the past few years, particularly visiting agricultural regions.  He had not been to any other parts of the world known to have malaria, nor does he live close to an international airport or have any other obvious means of being exposed to a malaria carrying mosquito.   He has thankfully recovered, but this will lead to the medical community keeping a very close eye on some European areas that were thought to be malaria free, in case this is the first sign of the disease making a comeback in Europe.  Historically, malaria has affected Europe as far north as London and the Fens, and is spread via  a breed of mosquito which bites mainly from dusk to dawn.

While advice for safe travel to Greece and other European areas will not yet include taking tablets to prevent malaria, it will certainly be prudent to use insect repellent (40-50% DEET)  and cover up in the evenings, preferably with clothes sprayed with a fabric  insecticide.  It is worth considering sleeping under a treated mosquito net for comfort as well as disease prevention.