Mosquito Concerns in Borneo
 

My mom and I are going to Sawarak for 9 days in October (my dad was born in Malaysia and lived there for the first 18 years of his life, but he has never been close to his family). Our trip will include a three-day tour of the Gunung Mulu National Park. We will book the tour with a local travel agency. I'm wondering if we need to bring lots of insect repellents? Will citronella-type spray work? Or will we have to get DEET-type repellents? Thank you for answering.

Citronella is only marginally effective against mosquitos. You really need a deet-containing repellant, choose one with 25-50 % deet. Don't buy one of the 100% deet products, as they should not be applied to the skin.

I loved Sarawak and Sabah. They are really special areas.

I assume you know that the jungle/rainforest areas of Borneo are malarial risk. We both took malarone for our stay there, but doxycycline is also effective in the area as is larium.

Okay, this is not Borneo (although I've been there too) but I was just up in Albany this weekend hanging out in the backyard where there were tons of mosquitoes and we used Picardin and it worked really well. I'm thrilled since I go to SE Asia once or twice per year and have always used DEET, which I hate. The Picardin wasn't smelly or sticky or oily and was just as effective. We didn't get bitten anywhere we used it. My husband neglected to use it on his ankles for some reason and he got totally bitten up there, while I did use it on my ankles and I didn't get one bite. Mossies usually love me and bite me to death.

The Picardin we used is sold by Avon and it's in a spray can. You do have to apply it more frequently than DEET but that's the only down side.

Good point, Laurieco, Picardin is a newer repellant that is proven effective. As Laurieco says, you do have to apply it more frequently.

Picardin can be found in Cutter Advanced. In a comparison in a recent Consumer reports test, Cutter Advanced with 7% Picardin was as effective as products with 10% Deet - that's why you need to apply it more frequently.

Thanks Kathie and laurieco. I will get some DEET spray and look into this Picardin spray.
I only learned about malarial risks from reading the posts on this website. Neither my dad nor his relatives have said anything about it. But I remember a long time ago, my dad did say they avoid going into the jungle as much as possible.
Last time I went to Malaysia was almost 20 years ago, and it was only a week-long visit also. I hardly remember anything about that visit.
I will ask my family about malarial risks and also ask the doctor. Thank you.

Here's the website I use for traveler's medicine issues: www.cdc.gov/travel

Read about the issues and you'll be in a better position to discuss them with your doctor.

Thank you Kathie for the link. I just finished reading it. I'm a little confused on the vaccine part. If the jungle in Malaysia is considered rural area, what vaccinations are recommended before going? I already had half on the list (required as part of job) and I thought that would be enough, but after looking at the CDC Travel webpage, maybe I need more? Thanks for answering.

Are you asking specifically about JE? JE is a disease of pigs and birds which is spread by mosquitos. By rural areas, they mean farming areas, not jungle. JE is rare enough that the vaccination is recommended only if you are spending a month or more in a rural (farming) area. Obviously, you still need to do what you can to prevent mosquito bites.

Was there any other vaccine you had questions about?

I've had Hepatitis B, Rabies, tetanus, and measles vaccines from that list. My question is about Hep A and Typhoid. Thanks.

Both Hep A and Typhoid and food and water bourne illnesses. Both are standard vaccines for traveling to the tropics. Indeed, there are enough Hep A outbreaks in the US, Canada and Europe that you should probably have the Hep A vaccine just to stay at home!

It's unusual to get the Hep B vaccine alone, so check and see if you got the Hep A and Hep B combination vaccine. If you haven't had the Hep A, I highly recommend it. The Hep A vaccine was originally thought to be effective for 10 years; now the belief is that it may impart life-long immunity.

The typhoid vaccine is available as a shot (good for 2 years) and an oral vaccine (good for 4-5 years). I also recommend getting that vaccine.

Thank you Kathie. I will get both.

You're welcome - have a great trip!

We just got the malaria tablets. And I bought four bottles of DEET spray (25%) and one bottle of Picardin (7%). I'm wondering estimated how many bottles per person would we need going into the jungle for three days? I want to get as many as we need, especially they are on sale now, but not too many that our luggage will be filled with plastic bottles. Thanks for answering.

I don't have any idea how big the bottles are, but I'd say you prpobably have enough repellant for several trips to Borneo!

Have a great time in Borneo!

They are the standard bottles from Walmart and Target, 12 to 18 oz per bottle I think? But it sounds like enough from your answer. Thank you again Kathie!

Just because it's on sale, remember these items loose efficacy after awhile; you'd probably have to dispose of after a year. With only three days in the jungle, repellent is needed, but not to over do it. You might have enough left over to sell it on the roadside.

Yup, you have plenty. One bottle will probably be more than you'll use. You could leave the rest in Borneo with the family. They might appreciate it.

I just got back from my Malaysia trip. We spent four days in Sibu where my dad grew up and where most of his immediate relatives live, and three days in Kuching (went there by boat from Sibu). We didn't go to the jungle trek because I was the only person who wanted to go, and we didn't have the time. There were enough mosquitoes in my aunt's house in Sibu's suburbs that I don't think I would want to go into the jungle anyways. The trip was pretty good, my most memorable times were the longhouse and the orangutans. In Sibu my aunt hired the cab driver whom they have used for many years, and he took us to one of his friends who's an Iban. When we got there there were six women working on different stages of clothmaking, and one man who was making a fishing net, and a woman who was making a straw mat. In Kuching the tour guide we hired took us to the orangutan place in the morning but we waited for 40 minutes and didn't see any, but he drove us back again in the afternoon and we saw three.
I did end up using the mosquito sprays, at my aunt's house at night. My aunt also used it and she likes it too, so I left three full bottles with her, she was happy about that.
Thanks for all the advice!

Welcome home. I'm glad you had a good time in Borneo. I look forward to my next trip there - what a wonderful place!