The government has updated its guidance for malaria prevention for UK travellers, highlighting that independent pharmacist prescribers can prescribe antimalarials.

The guidance, released by Public Health England (PHE) on August 23, includes revisions since the 2007 version, suggesting that last-minute travellers can visit some pharmacies for prescription-only antimalarials including mefloquine, doxycycline and atovaquone-proguanil, as well as for over-the-counter treatment and antimosquito products.

The guidance also includes updated advice on breastfeeding, children, emergency standby treatment, HIV and Aids, liver disease and sickle cell anaemia.  

There were 146 cases of malaria in the UK from January to August this year, according to figures released by the PHE on Friday (August 30). There were 1,378 cases of malaria brought into the UK last year and there were two deaths, according to a PHE report published in April.