China Travel Forum

[danny]

Hello all,I was wondering about the mosquitos in the southern part of China. I did get my Hepatitis A shot, but was wondering about Malaria. I did get some insect repellant that is 98.9% DEET (even though I read somewhere that if its more than 50% its not going to be better), but I've been reading the CDC site and its kind of freaking me out. Did anyone else have any problems in Sept? I will be leaving on Sunday for Hong Kong (visiting Lijiang, possiblly Dali, Kunming at the end of our trip, Sept22) so any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

[Aynur]

For the best protection: mosquitonet, cover up your body when the sun sets (malaria mosquito only come out when the sun is gone), use that deet-repellant you got (98.9% is really high!, and not good for your body)Just be careful, and you won't need the medicine, they only mess with your health. It is always good to have a anti-malaria medicine pack with you (as said before), but if it is really expensive I wouldn't buy it, I am sure it will be cheaper anywhere in Asia. I got mine in Cambodia for $2.Aukje

[brawn]

A vaccination for malaria would be great, unfortunately none exists.There are Malaria medication, though, which one uses to protect against malaria in high risk areas, this has to be taken 2 weeks before you go, during your stay, until 4 weeks (!) after you return.This is for high risk areas. In China there is a risk of catching malaria, but not a high one.So you will only have to thake the Malaria medication with you - and take it in case you get the symptoms (it starts like a flu, so take it if you get fever).The medications for China are: Mefloquin (LARIAM® / MEPHAQUIN®), or Atovaquon + Proguanil (MALARONE®) or Artemether + Lumefantrin (RIAMET®)). You need to get a prescription from a doctor to get one of them.BTW: these are the risk areas:Hainan, Yunnan, Guangxi,low risk at: Fujian, Guandong, Guizhou, Sichuan, Xizang (Zangboriver, SE Tibet)Free of Malaria are the big cities.Hope this helps.

[monika]

We were at the three places in Sept.2002, and never had any problem. We did not have any vaccination (not saying you should NOT have any, e.g., we probably should have had Hepatitis A). We did not use any repellant, as we did not even remember confronting any mosquitos (or serious enough to remember).

If you plan to go to Xishuangbanna, then you may need to be more cautious.

Have a wonderful time.