P_M

I've come across a really good deal on a trip to Puerto Plato but I'm a little worried about taking my 69 year old Mom to a place where she might be exposed to malaria. She has some other health issues and I don't want to take any chances. I'm looking at the CDC web site and they are saying malaria is present except in the cities like Santo Domingo and Santiago. Based on that I must presume there is malaria in Puerto Plato. Has anyone been there recently, and if so what is the latest scoop?

Also I would like to know if it's OK to drink water in the DR. Thanks for any info.

schmerl

Malaria would depend on how bad the mosquitos are. Just take a lot of insect repellant
Definitely DO NOT drink the water. Use bottled water for everything.

suze

P_M- I've been to Puerto Plata a couple times, but ages ago, so my information won't really help you. I would most definitely not drink the water! Personally I am more comfortable vacationing in Mexico than the DR myself. Is there something specific about the Dominican Republic that interests you?

P_M

Thanks for the replies. My mom and I have been looking for a trip to celebrate her upcoming 70th bday. I got a notice on travelzoo about a sale at a resort in the DR so we are looking into it. We're also looking at a cruise on the Voyager of the Seas. Mom loves cruises and the cruise was her idea while the DR was mine. I am going to present all of the info and let the birthday girl decide what we will do.

virginia

hi p_m, if you're mom already has health concerns why risk it.
in addition to the below, is that haiti is struggling with cholera
from state.gov re dom rep
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION: While adequate medical facilities can be found in large cities, particularly in private hospitals, the quality of care can vary greatly outside major population centers. There is an emergency 911 service within Santo Domingo, but its reliability is questionable. Outside the capital, emergency services range from extremely limited to nonexistent. Blood supplies at both public and private hospitals are often limited, and not all facilities have blood on hand even for emergencies. Many medical facilities throughout the country do not have staff members who speak or understand English. A private nationwide ambulance service, ProMed, operates in Santo Domingo, Santiago, Puerto Plata and La Romana; Telephone number is 809-412-5555. ProMed expects full payment at the time of transport.

The U.S. Embassy maintains a non-comprehensive list of providers of medical care in the Dominican Republic. The availability of prescription drugs varies depending upon location. Also, specific brand name drugs may not be available in the Dominican Republic. Travelers are advised to make sure they are traveling with an adequate supply of prescription drugs to meet their needs while in the Dominican Republic.

Tap water is unsafe to drink and should be avoided. Bottled water and beverages are safe.

Dengue: Dengue is endemic to the Dominican Republic. To reduce the risk of contracting dengue, the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends wearing clothing that exposes as little skin as possible and applying a repellent containing the insecticide DEET (concentration 30 to 35 percent) or Picaridin (concentration 20 percent or greater for tropical travelers). Because of the increased risk of dengue fever and the ongoing risk of malaria in the Dominican Republic (see below), practicing preventative measures is recommended by the CDC. For further information on dengue fever, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) web site at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/dengue.

Malaria: There are occasional reports of cases of malaria in areas frequented by U.S. and European tourists including La Altagracia Province, the easternmost province in which many beach resorts are located. Malaria risk is significantly higher for travelers who go on some of the excursions to the countryside offered by many resorts. Prior to visiting the Dominican Republic, travelers should consult the CDC web site for more information and recommendations on malarial prophylaxis.

P_M

Thanks for all of this good info virginia, I'll pass this along to her. I have a feeling she's going to pick the cruise over the DR.

Anguillagirl

What am I to do? My husband is traveling in Haiti this week and not only are having terrible wars, but Cholera. I am so nervous I don't know what to do.

suze

Do the cruise ;-) suze

virginia

anguillagirl, there are tablets to prevent malaria.
for dengue send him with tons of bug spray - the carrier mosquito bites in daytime so normal daybreak/dusk spraying is not enough. as i understand it there is an immunization series for this.
and there is a cholera vaccine. i have no clue about timely inocculation though, so not sure if this helps someone traveling this week. call your physician if you haven't already.
is he going with a medical or some sort of quake recovery group? if so i would think they'll keep a pretty close eye on him for you. at the very least they'll keep him supplied with good water.
i know of no vaccine for worry though

JeanH

No immunization for dengue, or treatment. Most people recover though.

I've read about Ducoral as either a vaccine or preventative for cholera. It's not FDA approved in the US, so is unavailable.

cd

P_M I vote for the cruise. And, take some fun shore excursions.

P_M

Thanks for the votes for the cruise, guess what Mom decided?

We booked the Voyager of the Seas!! I'm looking forward to it, I've heard it's a really nice ship. And best of all, we don't have to fly to the port.

I do appreciate all replies to my OP and this will come in handy if I ever do visit the DR.