Malaria & homeopathy
In July 2006, Sense About Science brought together leading experts in malaria and tropical diseases to respond to public misinformation about alternative ways to prevent malaria. They have warned that homeopathic medicines offer no protection against malaria or other serious tropical diseases.
This followed an investigation by science writer and broadcaster Simon Singh, in collaboration with Sense About Science, which showed that the first ten homeopathic clinics and pharmacies selected from an internet search and consulted were willing to break public health protocols by providing unproven homeopathic pills to protect against malaria and other tropical diseases such as typhoid, dengue fever and yellow fever.
In all ten consultations, Sense About Science intern Alice Tuff was advised to use homeopathic products instead of being referred to a GP or conventional travel clinics where effective medicines are available. Alice, who recorded the discussions, said she would be travelling through several African countries, which included places where the World Health Organisation has reported an increase in P. falciparum, the most dangerous species of malaria.
Malaria and tropical disease specialists have issued a warning to people who travel in disease-affected areas:
- Homeopathy will not protect you from malaria or other tropical diseases.
- Get reliable advice before travelling: speak to your GP or local travel clinic.
- Do not buy antimalarials - or other medicines claiming to prevent or cure serious tropical diseases - from the internet.
In a press release they also urged the government to ensure that the safety of the travelling public is not compromised by the promotion of unproven remedies for such serious diseases.
See a list of the experts here
If you have any questions about homeopathy or malaria, please contact us by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or on 020 7478 4380
Last updated: October 21 2007
