filmwill

I certainly wouldn't think so--and have never heard otherwise--but the CDC site sure seems to imply that in Yunnan province there exists the threat of Malaria.

As some of you know, we've changed our Japan trip in 3 weeks to China now and are fast and furiously putting together a new itinerary. I completely wasn't even thinking about this--mostly because I've never associated China with any type of malaria risk, but its there on the CDC site.

Any first-hand experience with this? Travel agent won't say one way or another (liability) but sure seemed to imply that it was NOT a risk and malarone was not necessary.

We're in Yangshuo and Guilin for a total of 4 or 5 days. I'm not really worried about it...should I be?

Are any immunizations (other than the standard typhoid, Hep A/B, etc.) needed for China?

rkkwan

Where in Yunnan are you planning to go? If you're going to Kunming and place north of it - like Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La, then it's definitely NOT a risk. If you're going to the south and southwest - along the borders to Myanmar, Laos, and/or Vietnam, then maybe.

filmwill

Hey rkkwan!

Oops. Now I feel sheepish. You're right: Guilin and Yangshuo are in Guangxi province. But we're still going to Lijiang (in Yunnan)--so that's fine.

Is there any risk in Yangshuo or Guilin?

rkkwan

Personally, I wouldn't worry about it, and I doubt many of the millions of tourists visiting Guilin and Yangshuo take any precaution. Afterall, that area is not THAT rural anymore, and not really tropical. If it was a risk, it would have been on CDC's website and it isn't.

Wattysmom

We are heading to China on April 10th and I specifically asked my Healthy Traveler MD (a special clinic just for travelers) about malaria risk in Guilin and Yanshuo as we are going there to visit the Li River. My doctor said that an anti- malarial should not be necessary. We did get flu shots (specifically with H1N1) and are up to date on everything else.

h2otstr

Call the Red Cross (1-800-give life) and ask to speak to the Travel Nurse. Tell her what areas you are visiting. If it IS a malarial area you will not be able to donate for one year.
You can get info that way; no need to make an appointment to donate.

Kathie

Call the Red Cross because you are too lazy to do your own research? I don't advise that. They are busy dealing with disasters and crises. Get your info from the same places the Red Cross gets their info: www.cdc.gov/travel or for the UK, www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk


The Fit For Travel site has the best malarial risk maps. Here is the one for China:
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/desti...laria-map.aspx

As you can see, from Kunming south is the area with risk, just like Ray says.

rkkwan

Actually, I don't agree with that map at all. They basically include all of Yunnan, including the northwestern parts where even the towns and villages are at 3000m or above. Hardly any risk of malaria up there.

Kathie

Ray, many people do best with visual prompts. The maps give a general idea of lower and higher risk areas, then you refer to the text which specifies that above a certain altitude, there is little or no risk of malaria.

Hanuman

There were lots and lots of mosquitoes in Yangshuo especially around dawn and dusk and we used repellents to keep them away. The more rural the more mosquitoes so I would bring along repellents.

qwovadis

www.malariahotspots.co.uk nice site with risk map.

Mild risk parts of Anhui, Guizhou, Henan, Hubei, Hainan, and Yunnan provinces. Rare cases occur in other rural parts of the country <1,500 m (<4,921 ft) between May–December. None in urban areas. Some major river cruises may go through malaria endemic areas in Anhui and Hubei provinces.

In cities you will be fine but

insect precautions always wise.

Preventive expensive meds not usually indicated unless

doing a lot of trekking exposure in remote RERAL risk areas.

Tourist malaria is EXTREMELY rare and easily treatable

if you get it so personally usually do NOT take oral

medication(and Malarone is not the drug of choice anyway)

Have fun,

qwovadis

www.cutteradvanced.com long sleeves avoid being out at

mozzie meal times (dusk/dawn) in rural areas works best for me

AC best or Nets for lodgings if no AC

important in risk areas too for me. .

qwovadis

Hep A at a minimum along with usual childhood jabs for me.

Typhoid jab if eating a lot of street food Hep B if intimate

local contact look cdc.gov for other jabs based on risk.

lots of rabies those jabs wise if trekking in rural areas.

janellecraig00

Yes, you can get malaria here. Probably not the kind that makes you extremely sick, probably the milder version. My daughter is currently being tested for malaria because we were there a year ago, and this is the second time she's had a month long fever since we've been home. Take malaria prophylaxis with you - especially at this time of year when it's more prevalent. Good luck and enjoy your trip!

janisj

>> Take malaria prophylaxis with you - especially at this time of year when it's more prevalent. Good luck and enjoy your trip!<<

I'm sure they did enjoy it . . . Five years ago.

HappyTrvlr

We recently were near Dali, in Lijiang and Kunming. High snow capped mountains with agricultural valley below, beautiful, and a fairly dry climate. No shots needed.
Loved the area north of Dali and Kunming.Lijiang is sadly an example of tourism and commercialization gone amok.