Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Ebola outbreak: Liberia shuts most border points [View all]Divernan
(15,480 posts)I'll read about it in detail later. At first glance, I couldn't find a list of members of the Private Sector - wondering if any of the Big US Pharma are represented. I did note that the subregional networks covered were all in Africa, and nothing re Mexico, Central or South America. About 10-12 years ago when I was scuba diving in Central America and Mexico, I checked out if I needed any inoculations. I learned about taking preventive medication re malaria. At that time there were 2 such prophylactic drugs available and the type taken depended on which country, or which side of said country one was visiting. I think the drug I took was chloroquine (spelling). At that time there was discussion about mosquitoes developing resistance to these drugs and that Big Pharma was not interested in developing more effective drugs because malaria was not a problem in first world countries. I just googled it again and see that there are 5 such "regimens" available, several of which are a combination of drugs.
It should be noted that no prophylactic regimen is 100% effective and advice on malaria prophylaxis changes frequently. There are currently five prophylactic regimens used (A,B,C,D & E), due to the differing resistance that exists by the malaria parasites to the various drugs used. (See the above map of Malaria Endemic Areas).
http://www.traveldoctor.co.uk/malaria.htm
The tablets you require depend on the country to which you are travelling (see the table page). Start taking the tablets before travel take them absolutely regularly during your stay, preferably with or after a meal and continue to take them after you have returned. This is extremely important to cover the incubation period of the disease.
I really do hate mosquitoes!