Malaria is not established in Greece or most of the EU, but imported cases and invasive mosquitoes keep the risk live. Here is what the evidence shows and how to protect yourself.
What malaria is and how it spreads
Malaria is an infectious disease caused by protozoa and usually spread by certain mosquitoes called Anopheles mosquitoes. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control describes it as a serious illness that can progress quickly without prompt diagnosis and treatment. Malaria germs enter the blood when an infected female mosquito bites a person. The same source notes rarer routes, including blood transfusions, organ transplants, sharing needles, and transmission from a pregnant mother to her baby before birth. People do not spread malaria to each other like a cold or flu, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states plainly that it is not sexually transmitted. Understanding these routes matters because it separates real risk from misplaced fear. You cannot catch malaria from a neighbour, a colleague, or a handshake.
The global burden in numbers
The scale of malaria worldwide is large, and the World Health Organization keeps the clearest figures. In 2024 there were an estimated 282 million malaria cases and 610 000 malaria deaths across 80 countries. The WHO African Region carried 95% of cases, about 265 million, and 95% of deaths, about 579 000. These numbers explain why travellers and health systems pay close attention. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control gives a similar order of magnitude, describing roughly 250 million infections and over 600 000 deaths each year. Such figures are not a reason to panic in Europe. They are a reason to plan before travel to affected regions and to seek advice early. The burden falls hardest on countries with limited health resources, which is why prevention advice is treated as a public-health priority.
Malaria in the EU and Greece
Malaria is not endemic in the European Union, and that affects how cases appear. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that its own country, which also has no endemic malaria, reports about 2 000 cases in a typical year, mostly in people infected abroad who return home. The same pattern applies across Europe, where most cases are imported by travellers, migrant families visiting relatives, and people returning from affected areas. The National Health Service states that malaria is not found in the UK, and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control frames malaria as a travel-associated concern for European residents. Greece is not a malaria-endemic country. Local transmission in southern Europe has occurred rarely and in small clusters, so health authorities keep surveillance active rather than treating the disease as absent.
Symptoms and why speed matters
Symptoms usually begin after a delay, so a recent trip is important information for any doctor. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control puts the typical onset at 7 to 15 days after an infected bite. The World Health Organization says symptoms usually start within 10 to 15 days. The National Health Service gives a range of 7 to 18 days and warns that some people show no symptoms for months, and rarely years, after travel. Fever, chills, headache, and tiredness are common early signs, and they can be mistaken for other infections. The WHO warns that untreated P. falciparum malaria can become severe and fatal within 24 hours. Anyone with fever after visiting a malaria area should tell a healthcare professional about the trip without delay.
Mosquitoes, climate, and invasive species
Vector risk is the part European health officials watch most closely. The World Health Organization reports that progress in global malaria control is threatened by emerging resistance to insecticides among Anopheles mosquitoes. It also notes that Anopheles stephensi, originally native to parts of south Asia and the Arabian Peninsula, has been detected in eight African countries. This species adapts well to city conditions, which raises concern about urban transmission. For Europe, the lesson is that mosquito control and surveillance protect people, not just distant regions. Warmer conditions and movement of goods and people can shift where mosquitoes survive. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control treats reported local transmission as a signal to strengthen mosquito monitoring. Physical barriers and careful bite prevention remain practical defences wherever Anopheles mosquitoes are present.
Prevention before and during travel
Preparation starts weeks before departure, not at the airport. The National Health Service advises seeking advice from a GP, nurse, pharmacist, or travel clinic at least 4 to 6 weeks before travelling to an area where malaria is found. The World Health Organization recommends consulting a doctor several weeks ahead, because some preventive drugs must begin 2 to 3 weeks before departure. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control advises asking a doctor whether preventive treatment is needed. During the trip, all four sources support similar measures. Use mosquito nets, ideally treated with insecticide. Wear clothing that covers most of the body, and use repellent on visible skin. The National Health Service specifically mentions repellent that is 50% DEET-based. The US CDC advises avoiding high mosquito activity, especially late evening and at night.
What this means for households in Greece and the EU
For most residents of Greece and the EU, malaria is a travel health issue rather than a local infection risk. That framing should reduce fear while keeping good habits. If someone in your household has returned from an affected area and develops fever, mention the travel history to a clinician early. Do not wait for symptoms to settle on their own. Keep physical barriers in good repair, such as intact window screens and properly hung bed nets, because they provide real protection when correctly specified and used. Use repellent as directed and cover skin in the evening. People born in malaria-affected countries who visit family abroad should treat those trips as exposure risks, not holidays. Sensible preparation protects the traveller, the family, and the wider community.
Sources
- Malaria: European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
- Malaria: World Health Organization
- About Malaria | Malaria | CDC: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Malaria - NHS: National Health Service (England)
This article is general information, not medical advice. Ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own health.