Malaria in Playa / Cancun ?

[smeheux]

I am moving to Playa in a couple of weeks to live and have just finished having the recomended vaccinations. I have been warned by doctors that I should be taking malaria tablets on a permenant basis! I didnt really want to do this as I have heard about some of the side affects, e.g hair loss, sensitivity to sun light etc! After checking out various international malaria web sites it seems that Quintana Roo is a very high risk area!! And have even read that Cancun has a malaria problem! All these different recognised organisations cant all be wrong.

Do any of you people living around this area take malaria tablets and if so which one?

Thanks
Stuart

[Life_N_Cancun]

Your joking right?
Malaria is not a problem in Playa or Cancun. My freinds at the Cruz Roja (red cross) have never recommended any malaria drugs to me. Maybe if you go out into the hills and sleep next to a swamp for a few months a bad bug might find you. I don't know where you got that info, but I wouldn't worry about it.
Please post some links to your sources.

[smeheux]

www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
http://geoscience.gsu.edu/projects/gs08mcp/
http://www.paho.org/english/hcp/hct/...a_pptindex.htm

Anything to worry about? Although it looks like its only the rural areas around Cancun and other resorts, what about leaving the resorts to go site seeing etc? Ive been to the Yucatan several times before for vacations and never taken any anti malaria medication, but is it a different story when you are living there?

[denisea]

According to both, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The World Health Organization (WHO), only rural areas (areas that are considered to be unlikely for tourists to visit) within the state of Quintana Roo are considered to be at a risk for the possible transmission of Malaria. Urban and major resort areas along the Gulf coast of the state of Quintana Roo are not considered to be risk areas for Malaria transmission. Chloroquine (brand name Aralen and generics) is the recommended drug for prevention of Malaria in Mexico.

Below are some links for those who may be in search of additional info on this subject.

The CDC has a web site called Traveler's Health that provides health info for travelers that includes disease transmission, symptoms, risk by country, and prevention.

The WHO has an excellent web site dedicated entirely to International Health and Travel. Info can be accessed by country or by disease. Disease maps, including one for malaria, show where transmission occurs throughout the world.

[denisea]

Originally Posted by smeheux

Anything to worry about? Although it looks like its only the rural areas around Cancun and other resorts, what about leaving the resorts to go site seeing etc? Ive been to the Yucatan several times before for vacations and never taken any anti malaria medication, but is it a different story when you are living there?

No, there isn't anything to worry about. Yes, a risk exists for malaria, however, the risk is low in urban and tourist areas, such as Cancun and Playa del Carmen. Now, if you plan to spend time in the rural areas where few tourist visit there is a higher risk. Why would it be a different story if you were living somewhere as opposed to just vacationing there? If there's a risk it exists no matter how long you are there.

Upon review of the links that you provided to the web sites that have caused your concern, here are my comments:

Originally Posted by www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk

MALARIA PRECAUTIONS
Malaria precautions are essential in some parts. The infection is unusual in developed tourist resorts but there is some risk throughout the year in rural areas along the west coast and in the south of the country. The risk in Cancun is very small but malaria is present in nearby rural areas: see malaria map.

It should be noted that the map from the above quoted web site also indicates that the Yucatan is at a moderate risk for malaria compared to other areas of Mexico.

The geoscience.gsu.edu web site link you provided does show a risk of malaria in Quintana Roo with risks reported in Akumal, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum and Xcaret. However, this web site was last updated in March 2002, over 2 years ago, which makes one question the validity of the info.

The paho.org web site link you provided to the map you attached to your initial post does show a risk of malaria in Quintana Roo. However, this map was published in October 1999, almost 5 years ago, which again makes one question the validity of the info.

[james]

Summary:

no

[Life_N_Cancun]

I think this topic is up there with the "Are shark attacks a problem?" question.
Yes you might get Malaria, you may be attacked by sharks and you might be abducted by aliens, but its not worth worring about as there is very little you could do anyway.

I'm sure there are all kinds of things I SHOULD by vaccinated for but I am much more afraid of being hit by a taxi than getting any serious illness.

[smeheux]

Thanks Denisea,

I didnt notice the dates because I was alarmed by the high lighted areas of Q.Roo! I also thought that the chances of being bitten by an infected mosquito would be higher living there and being exposed all the time rather than just visiting for a week or two. ( Like Russian roulette, if you played it all the time, eventually you would loose!!) I guess the sites I visited need to be updated, They could learn a lesson or two from this site!!

I think I will not take any anti malaria medication on a regular basis( I dont want my hair to fall out!!) However I may take some short term if I go off and travel around the pennisula.

Thanks again.

[JoanieBlon]

There was a malaria outbreak in South Florida in 2003 and we are constantly monitored in the greater Tampa area for the presence of West Nile Virus. Encephalitis is also a risk here in Florida... but then, so is getting hit by lightning! You can pick up "exotic" diseases without ever leaving the U.S. Do I "worry" about the fact that we have ever present mosquitos and could possibly contract a disease...nope...and I won't worry about them in Playa either.

http://www.rense.com/general40/malariajitters.htm

[Kenny Kustom]

Deep woods off. skeeters hate it.