Malaria in Kosovo, Infectious Disease Specialist Advises Citizens Before Traveling to Endemic Areas

On August 1, a foreign national was admitted to the University Clinical Center of Kosovo (QKUK) in serious condition.

QKUK announced that she was sent to the Infectious Diseases Clinic, where it was learned that she had recently visited countries where malaria is endemic.

After tests were conducted, the patient was diagnosed with malaria.

In a Facebook post, infectious disease specialist Gramoz Bunjaku shared several recommendations for citizens planning to travel to countries where malaria is endemic.

The full post:

1. Preparations for travel to a country where malaria is present should begin with a visit to an infectious disease specialist, not at the airport.

2. Travel should not be undertaken without the appropriate prophylaxis, as malaria can develop within a few hours into a life-threatening emergency.

3. Intravenous artesunate, the first-line treatment for severe cases of malaria, may not always be immediately available in Kosovo. For this reason, before returning from an endemic area, you should seek advice from an infectious disease specialist to determine the appropriate course of action and, if recommended, obtain the necessary treatment.

4. Prevention remains the best form of treatment. A consultation before departure could save your life.

5. Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) show that, during 2025, malaria remained endemic in 83 countries and territories.