Malaria

[Sherry]

WE WILL BE VACATIONING IN PUNTA CANA FROM FEB 26 - MARCH 5TH.
WE PORIOBABLY WON'T BE LEVING THE RESORT.  SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED ABOUT GETTING MALARIA? DO YOU RECOMMEND GETTING MEDICINE?
THANK YOU

[admin]

Here is what the CDC has to say (dated Feb 4, 2005):

CDC continues to recommend that all travelers to La Altagracia  Province, including the Punta Cana resort area, should take an antimalarial drug (prophylaxis). In addition, an antimalarial  drug is recommended for travelers to rural areas throughout the  country. Chloroquine is the recommended drug for the Dominican  Republic. Antimalarial drugs taken correctly and consistently,  along with other measures to prevent mosquito bites, have been  shown to be effective in preventing malaria.?Therefore, CDC  does not discourage travel to malaria-endemic countries.


However, CDC has rescinded recommendations for malaria prophylaxis  for Duarte Province because no new cases have been reported from  the area in the last 2 months, the epidemiologic investigation  by the Ministry of Health of the Dominican Republic did not reveal  any new cases, and their surveillance system did not detect any  cases of malaria in the province in recent years.

Read more at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/malaria_dr_2004.htm

[admin]

Here is another report (date: Feb 8, 2005)

The Dominican Republic reports no new cases of malaria since December 5, 2004. Those preparing to travel to the Dominican Republic, one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in the Caribbean, can be assured the risk of malaria is virtually non-existent, according to the island's Department of Tourism.

For the full article, click here: http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050208/cgtu065_1.html

[Margarita]

Hi, we need some advice. We are supposed to go to Catalonia Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana, this coming end of April. We would like to know what province this hotel is in so we can keep updated with the Malaria siutation in the area. We are going 4 adults and one child, so I am very concerned. I appreciate any information, thank you in advance!

[admin]

The whole eastern part of the Dominican Republic is in the province of La Altagracia, where the malaria warning is still under effect. However, the only cases ever reported were in 20 people that returned home between November 3,  2004 and January 2, 2005. No case (to my knowledge) has been reported since. As such, the risk of catching malaria is quite low, and you should not worry about it.

[clotguy]

Just returned from Cabarete, took prophylaxis as advised, but never even heard a mozzy!
No one at our resort reported any bites of any sort.

[carol]

Am going to Puerto Plata from March 24-29.  I know that The CDC has lifted the advisory for Duarte Province but is Puerto Plata in this province or in La Altagracia. I really don"t want to take the medication if I don't have to because I take many other meds and am afraid of adding this one just in case of possible interactions. Since we are going over Easter and during Holy Week what can we expect as far as crowds and no watersports?

[admin]

Puerto Plata is not in any of the provinces that were affected by malaria recently.

There are no watersports allowed during Semana Santa with a few exceptions but they are nor yet 100% clear. The only thing I've heard is that Cabarete is allowed to have windsurfing and kiteboarding.

[Rosie]

I AM TRAVELLING TO PUNTA CANA THE WEEK OF MAY8-15, 2005 AND I WILL BE TRAVELLING WITH A 3YR OLD AND 9 MONTH OLD. I AM VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE MALARIA SCARE AND I AM THINKING OF CANCELLING MY VACATION.....HAS ANYONE ONE ELSE TRAVELLED WITH SUCH YOUNG CHILDREN ?? ARE THE RESORT AREAS TREATED ANY FEED BACK WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.......

[nicole davis]

My husband and I are travelling to Puerta Plata mid June.  Do we need to take any medication before we go?

[rogerschelsea_]

i have been to the dominican, had the time of my life! yeah took anti malaria tablets. I would be more concerned mike about leaving my 3 young kids at home.

[JAYNE]

Hi

I am going to the dominican in 4 weeks. I am travelling with my husband and 11 year old daughter. We have ALL had typhode, polio, tetnus,hepatitus a, diptheria jabs and WILL be taking the malaria tablets recommended by our doctor.

I have never had any of thease disease's but i am sure they are horrible and in some cases can fatal.

I have however saved long and hard for this holiday and getting a life threatning disease is not on the itinery.

Hope you all enjoyed - or enjoy your holiday !!

[Carol Schaffener]

a group of women age starting at 54-72 years will be going to Dominican Iberostar in Punta Cana on June 17-24. With the Malaria outbreak do you think we need to be medicated. One of our people also takes heparin shots for a blood disorder while traveling on a plane. Would she be able to take the medication!

[lisa]

hi there im going to the dominican repbulic  in 6weeks with my partner we are 20yrs and have been advised by friends and a nurse that its vital to have all the jabs could  someone please tell my what the jabs are called,also how much they will cost aprox?? thanks

[steve& jules]

we are travelling to bavaro hotel riu taino with two boys and we are very concerned about the reports in the daily mail newspaper regarding a severe virus that has affected many people staying in riu hotels on the island we are considering cancelling the holiday,can you please let me have any information that you may have    
                   thank you