Malaria in Senegal is a serious risk to all travelers. If you are planning to visit Senegal, you should make sure to take the necessary precautions to minimize your risk of contracting the disease.
The entire country is a high-risk area for malaria, so you will need to protect yourself wherever you travel in Senegal. It is good to be prepared when you arrive so that you can be safe and healthy during your entire trip.
Malaria is spread by mosquitoes that come out at dusk and stay active throughout the night. As such, make sure to use plenty of insect repellant in the evenings and wear long sleeves and trousers as well as shoes and socks at night. Most hotels have mosquito nets over beds, but if yours doesn’t, make sure to bring one with you when you travel to Senegal.
Additionally, you should get antimalarial pills from your nearest travel health clinic before you travel to Senegal. Pills like Malarone should be taken one to two days prior to visiting Senegal, then taken throughout your trip, and for seven days after you leave the country. Taking antimalarials will help prevent you from contracting malaria, but no pill is 100% effective. You will still need to use insect repellant, wear appropriate clothing, and sleep under a mosquito net to avoid getting malaria in Senegal.
