We are visiting Hanoi, Hue, Hoi An, Saigon, Siem Reap and Hong Kong (with stops in the airports in Seoul, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur). We are up-to-date with the basics including tetanus. We know for sure we should have Hep A and Hep B, but we are confused about Typhoid and Malaria.

Regarding malaria, the site says its not a problem any of the places we're visiting in Vietnam, nor at "the Angkor Wat temple complex", but it seems that it might be an issue in other parts of Siem Reap. Is that correct, so we should take precautions?

What about Typhoid - is it just generally considered the smart thing to do to protect against Typhoid, especially since we're not that careful about what we eat (we're not complete idiots, but we do probably eat at places others might consider "less desirable")?

You definately want the typhoid vaccine. Even though it isn't 100% effective (last figures I saw were 80%), there is antibiotic resistant typhoid in SE Asia.

The cdc has recently changed its recommendation about malaria prevention at the Angkor temples. If you are going to remote temples, you may want to consider an anti-malarial. Otherwise, be meticulous about using an effective repellant, both to prevent malaria and to prevent dengue.

Here is the malarial risk map from the NHS:
http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/desti...laria-map.aspx

i personally would seek malaria prevention tablets for siem reap regardless of what CDC says...

I know a woman who spent a year in Uganda. For some reason she decided not to take Larium for three of those 52 weeks. Guess what? She got malaria. Afterwards she said,"It was only three weeks!" It only takes one mosquito. Do the anti-malarials.

Thanks all - we're pretty well set on typhoid, hepA/B and malaria. Appreciate the help (P.S. my son spent two years in Uganda -- I would have been very very unhappy if I'd known he didn't take his anti-malarials all the time, but he's here now, so I just asked -- he took them regularly for the first six months, then only if they were traveling outside of Kampala, where they lived. Live and learn)

Here's what I did for Cambodia (and this is just me, do whatever makes you comfortable): Hep A and typhoid. I didn't do an anti-malarial. There can be side effects, and I tend to react to medications more than others. I figured that I would need to protect myself from mosquitos anyway, to protect agaist dengue.

I would recommend getting some Cipro, in the event you get a stomach bug. I brought it with me to Cambodia, and a year later to Vietnam. Never needed it, but it's nice to have in your arsenal in case you fall ill...

We just got back from the travel clinic. We ended up NOT getting anti-malarial meds, as they are no longer considered necessary for Siem Reap and the Angkor temples (that will come out in the next version of the "yellow book", due out in May). We did get typhoid pills (to the extent they work at all, they're effective for 5 years, whereas the innoculation is only effective for 3 years), and we got HepA/B, one innoculation now, one in 4 weeks and 1 in 6 months. The HepA/B is expensive -- the total will come to about $450 per person for the 3 shots -- but it's good for life. We also got a prescription for Cipro along with use instructions. Happy to have that done!

Yes, I always take the typhoid oral vaccine as well, so I don't have to get the vaccine as often since I travel to SE Asia every year.

The new info about malarial risk at Angkor is already on the cdc web pages.

Kathie, you're right - however, when I originally posted this, it still said malaria was present at Angkor temple complex. The clinic said it changed sometime within the last six months.

That is correct, it has changed recently.

I'm glad you are all set - have a great trip!

Kathie, do you know how far from Siem Reap town and the Angkor temple complex the new "no malaria zone" covers? We're only going to be there for 4 nights (3 full days), so I imagine we won't get very far, but I'm curious at what point you DO need malaria meds.

Remember that the zone is "low risk" for malaria, but no "no risk" for malaria. Click on the malaria map in my first post. You'll see that the area around Tonele Sap, SIem Reap and the main Angkor temples are all now low rsk. Nearby templs you go to, like Banteay Srei and the Roulous group are also in the low risk area. Far away temples, 2-4 hours drive (not covered by the Angkor Pass) like Ko Ker are in the malarial risk zone.

Hello,
As luck would have it, I was at the travel clinic today picking up a typhoid booster and anti-malarials for Siem Reap. I also happen to be an epidemiologist. Having taken anti-malarials on previous trips to Siem Reap and Angkor, I too noticed the slight changes in the CDC website. Since we needed anti-malarias for parts of Bali, we decided, upon recommendation, to just continue for a few extra days. Better safe than sorry, and the side effects (really aren't any more than what you find for placebo) for malarone for a short period of time are not problem. Plus with my experience, I know that the travel clinic physician wasn't trying to just push everying recommended by CDC to make an extra buck(said Hep A and B, typhoid, and antimalaria for Bali and Siem Reap). As of today, areas very close to Angkor including Siem Reap province are considered high risk at the CDC website. Plus, it gives you the freedom to explore those other areas if you change your mind. Happy travels!

Well, we decided to go for the anti-malarials anyway, just in case we decide to stray further afield.