I purchased malaria tablets from Boots they are called AVLOCLOR (chloroquine phosphate). I am still taking them.They were about £2.99 and you only have to take 2 once a week. You start one week before you go, each week while you are there and four weeks when you arrive back home, there are 20 tablets in a pack.

Not alot to pay to be on the safe side!

Chrystyrich

Hi all
I have checked with my practice nurse about this and she said there is definitely no reason to take malaria tablets when going to Cuba. They do not have the mosquito that carries malaria over there apparently. (I wasn't even aware of the fact that have different types of mozzies!) We didn't take them last year when we went and won't be when we go back in 2 weeks time.
I did get bitten last year and will take bug spray for that but I hate the thought of taking tablets that I don't need, I'm a real baby for tablets anyway!
Hope this helps
Ellie

Just an thought, I have seen this tip often before and always forget to do it myself. Pop to Boots (no I do not work there ) and pick up some odourless garlic tablets and start taking them straight away, apparently mozzies do not like garlic and will steer clear. Its worth a try!

Thanks everyone. I think I will give my doctor a call, just to be on the safe side.

I've heard the same about the Garlic Sam, no mozzies will come near you, but maybe nobody else will either .
We took Larium malaria tablets when we went to the Gambia, but they recommended them for that area as they do have malaria in Central and West Africa - I had some dreadful nightmares whilst taking them, very vivid indeed, however Paul had no trouble at all. have not taken them on several trips to Barbados either - not needed.
We will not be taking any when we go to Cuba, unless the risk of malaria changes and our GP recommends it. World Health Organisation web site should give updates I would have thought
Heather

Sam- I give my horse garlic powder in the summer, for the same reason! I may give it a go, ha ha.

I've heard the same about the Garlic Sam, no mozzies will come near you, but maybe nobody else will either .

My thoughts entirely which is why I recommended odourless ones. Mozzies should keep away but not your other half

We were in Cuba (Cayo Coco) in May and did not have mozzie problems, if you go when it is rainy I am fairly sure in would be different.
One thing we usually do in the Caribbean is to use AfterSun with insect repellent, it seems to stop the odd one that fancy's a bite.
If we think there are a lot of Mozzies about we top up with a spray repellent, Mozzies use to love taking lumps out of my hide, but I have not been bitten since we were told to do this.

Dose anyone know if it possible to get malaria in Dom Rep And do you HAVE to take Malaria tablets as I have heard that they give you nasty side effects

Margaret

Hi there,

They do advise you take malaria tablets, they do taste pretty disgusting but it's better to be safe than sorry. Some say it can affect the senstivity of your skin once taking them so be careful in the sun, it is very strong out there.

Millie

Margaret,

the simple answer is you don't HAVE to take anything, whether you actually decide to or not must be your decision. Personally, I've never taken malaria tablets on 6 visists to the Dom Rep.I do take vit B tablets and odourless garlic tablets to help ward off the mozzies though.

My reflexologist left for Thailand 4 days ago and when I saw her last week she had just been to a health store and bought homiopathic alternatives in tablet form for all the jabs she would have needed (hep A and C, typhiod, malaria etc) She refuses to have jabs as she says they totally screw up your immune system and can do more harm than good.

Tracy

Tracy,

I wish i'd known that Would much rather have taken herbal replacements instead of having the jabs done, will remember that for the next time

i have been to dr 9 times and the first couple i took tablets....they made me very ill and have not taken them since.....however i am lucky and seem not to get bitten...wear insect repellent with deet only as the mozzies seem imune to denat...boots extra strength is what works for me

I had Hep A and Typhoid jabs before I went to Dom Rep in September 2002 and never felt any different whatsoever. I also took the malaria tablets and don't remember them tasting funny and had no side effects again. I personally would rather be safe than sorry although of course each to their own

See what your doctor advises, that is what I did.

Same with me about the Malaria tablets, didn`t feel any side effects, i don`t get bitten that much anyway BUT i saw some VERY badly bitten people mainly females (must be the perfumes) my wife got bitten by the sand flies/fleas so beware and spray every bit of exposed skin and re apply especially out at night.

visited dominican January 2005. We took the malaria pills but wished we had not. Did not see one mosquito, or any other bug. We stayed at Sunscape Casa Del Mar in La Romana. If we go back in January will not take the malaria pills.

Hi

Malaria is not really a disease you want to risk getting. We just included several pages about malaria on our free info site about our homeland the lovely Dominican Republic.

Sadly last year due to the apparent arrival of at least one febrile (infectious) person (traced as most likely a Haitian building site worker - malaria is unfortunately endemic almost all of Haiti) an outbreak of malaria in the Punta Cana (PC) area caused a wide degree of concern. It only takes one person to spread the disease once mosquitoes have bitten them...and anyone who does not take precautions, and becomes infectious (given that they won't know immediately...) can become a risk to many others...especially those in a near vicinty like friends and family...if you are all still in an 'anonpheles mosquito' area!

The latest public health update by the US Gov. of 28/2/05 (cited on our blog http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.blogspot.com/ notes that you are still advised to take medical precautions against malaria in some areas (e.g Altagracia province - includes PC)

But Duarte province is considered malaria free and immunisation is not necessary.

The PC outbreak was of the 'falciparum' variety which is the most deadly type of malaria. Rapid diagnosis and treatment is essential if you should think you are exhibiting symptoms when you return home (usually takes 7 to 30 days for symptoms to start). Children, elderly and those already fighting illness are most vulnerable. Recovery is prolonged and relapse can occur.

We do try to summarise key aspects about what it is? What the symptoms are? and how to take effective precautions http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/dominican-republic-malaria.html. Chances of acquiring malaria, which is only spread by mosquito can be reduced to virtually nil by using a combination of DEET based repellnt on exposed body areas, permethrin or DEET sprays on clothing, textiles and bed-nets, and by ensuring that possibility of allowing mosquitos into your rooms are minimized.

It is risky to visit areas where malaria is still a problem without anti-malarial pre-treatment by effective drugs. For the Caribbean, Chloroquine is recommneded...for some it does have side effects. most likely "nausea and vomiting, headache, dizziness, blurred vision and itching" may possibly exacerbate psoriatic conditions. There are alternatives if intolerance is experienced.

You also need to be cautious about repellent use with young children and babies, we include some advice also http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com/best-mosquito-repellent.html
You can get some herbal 'repellents', but generally these are less reliable than DEET based products.

The 'problem' of malaria in PC has rapidly been brought under control by a strict regime of blanket 'area' spraying and other methods, and the chances of infection within resort compounds are now very slim. However, until the complete 'all clear' is given, (even though we also hate the idea of taking strong chemical precautions!) we would not want anyone to take the risk of becoming infected with the disease that is still the worlds second biggest killer. Hope any advice we have provided here or at the resource site (http://www.visiting-the-dominican-republic.com) is of interest/help.

bizzy

A bit worried as someone mentioned there was malaria in Dom Rep. Don't want tablets as reports show they can be harmful as well. Anybody got any thoughts on this? We go next friday

Sorry another question. Can I go into boots and just get tablets? would it be too late to take them now. we leave in 9 days??