Risk of Malaria on Thai Border?
 

My husband and I are continuing to plan for our trip to Thailand in last August and I stumbled on concerns about malaria and dengue fever on the northern Thai border. One of the places we are considering visiting is an elephant camp in Thailand near the border with Myanmar and Laos. Anyone have an idea of the degree of risk?

Thanks, I saw that. I'm wondering if anyone has experience with visiting in this northern area on the border. It is forested...just a little scary, but not sure how scary.

The problem with such "experience" is that everyone's mileage will vary.

Personally, because of the prophylaxis's side effects, if I were simply day visit, I would opt for slathering on DEET and covering up. If I were speeding some time in the area, I might think differently.

Curt1591 + 1.

And in any case, it's sound advice to visit your local travel clinic several weeks before you travel to discuss your itinerary, and what inoculations you may or may not need. Your doctor knows you and has access to your medical records.

Malaria very rare in Thailand. Dengue is more of a worry.

Ive visited several borders and had no concerns.

Dengue has no treatments.

Best just cover up and spray using a deet spray.

That border area is a malarial risk area. Dengue is a risk everywhere in Thailand (as well as in central and south America, Hawaii, basically anywhere tropical and some semi-tropical areas. Bite prevention is the only protection for dengue.

If you are staying for a while in the border area, you might want to consider malarone, the anti-malarial with the fewest side effects. It also has the advantage of only requiring you to take it one day before entering the risk area and a week after. As others have said, consult with someone with expertise in travel medicine.

I spent a week in that area a number of years ago. I opted to take malarone in addition to using repellant. I am a mosquito magnet, and despite meticulous use of a deet repellant, wearing long pants, etc, I still got bitten.

If you want another source for info on the area being malarial risk, UK's Fir for Travel websites have the best malarial maps on the web: http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/desti...laria-map.aspx

If you have already read the CDC advice I don't know what you expect to learn here. You will get anecdotal reports from a miniscule percentage of visitors to a large area of Thailand - you don't even specify exactly where or when you are going - how can that possibly inform your decision? You already have contradictory reports, and at least one is not current (the areas of risk are not static). If four people say that they saw no mosquitoes, and one says they contracted malaria, how will you weigh that data? If you wanted to know how to reach a specific camp, this would be a good place to ask. For medical advice you need a doctor, or, in this case, a travel clinic.

If it were my trip I would take Malarone, but I am particularly attractive to mosquitoes, I can take Malarone with no side effects, Malarone makes me less attractive to mosquitoes, and I would probably be visiting other risk areas on the same trip. And there would still be the issue of dengue, for which there is no prophylaxis.

You do not say which elephant camp you are considering. Have you checked into its treatment of the elephants, and their source? (Note: you CANNOT necessarily rely on a tour company to do that for you.) Before committing to such a visit please read these:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz21Jpby7X2
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...6_phajaan.html
http://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-bl...-conservation/
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-am...ficked-n151711
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charli...b_4591638.html

maybe you should reconsider even going to those places. certainly you are much safer in the cities

Thanks, Kathie. I will check with my doctor re Malarone, plus get protective clothing, use DEET.

So pleasant a response, thursdaysd. "you don't even specify exactly where or when you are going - how can that possibly inform your decision?" Please reread my post - going in late August (I see I made a typo but believe the msg was clear) and on the Thai, Myanmar, Laos border. Very clear. We have read about the camp we are visiting and elephants are treated well. I share your concerns with the treatment of animals. I put people in that category. We could be more generous to human beings (posters) seeking help.

No, the msg was not clear. And it is annoying to take the trouble to answer a question with the most relevant information and then be told that the questioner already has that information. The additional information you were seeking was of little (or indeed, no) value in making an informed decision.

"We could be more generous to human beings (posters) seeking help."
We could also avoid wasting responders' time.

thursdaysd +1.

Anyone asking for and accepting medical advice on any travel forum might just as well be asking and accepting the same advice from Joe Bloggs in a pub or supermarket queue.

That advice carries absolutely no weight at all should you need to put in a claim against your travel insurance. What are you going to use in the narrative to support your claim..."Elmer on the Fodor Forum said "blah blah"!?

If in doubt seek a advice from a professional, and get it in writing!

Why I stopped posting on fodors a long time ago.

Orcas, I'm sorry you have gotten a hostile response from a poster. Hopefully, you have gotten the info that will help you make an informed decision when you have your medical visit.

I read it as 2 negative responses... also original post seemed very clear to me..

"Why I stopped posting on fodors a long time ago."

I been waiting for Hanuman to tell us we're all full of crap.

one problem with the strains of Malaria in this area is that they are known to be the kind resistant to many treatments.

LL,

Experienced travellers know more than a gp looking at a computer screen.

You can always pack tablets and only use them if needed.

I have never taken them for border areas.

Prachuap

Yep. There's also a lot of experience travellers who think they know more than they do. Most GPs aren't trained to offer medical travel advice, and good GPs will refer you to the people who are trained.

In the event of you putting a claim in against your travel medical insurance you [might] need something to support that claim.

For anyone in UK I'd recommend MASTA...

http://www.masta-travel-health.com/

The appointments I've made have always at by local GP travel clinic, and have been free, one-2-one, and thorough. At the end of the appointment you come away with a hard-copy personalised medical travel guide. They are one-offs, and only good for the journey you're about to go on.

Takes about 30 minutes, and you leave the consultation with peace of mind.

Slighty O/T, a lot of illnesses that people pick up in some of these funny countries that we get our teeth stuck into are easily avoided.

I go through copious amounts of hand sanitizer, and use it liberally 2 or 3 times an hour when travelling. But it's a rare sight to see many other people doing the same.

And in countries where spitting is akin to national sport, wearing a surgical mask is a good idea in order to avoid any airborne nasties.