I have been all over Asia, but don't take any anti-malarial medication because it makes me deathly ill (with diarrhea). Being sick would ruin my holiday. I weigh my risks, however. I stay in 5-star hotels with air conditioning (no need to open windows), travel around in hired cars w/driver with air conditioning, and don't troll the streets at 2 AM. I also usually stay in larger cities, not rural villages. Bug spray goes with me everywhere.

I had two gay friends who went to Africa and contracted malaria. They both died. They were out in the bush for weeks, sometimes sleeping in a hammock. Not taking anti-malarial meds under these circumstances was idiotic.

On our trip to India in Nov. last year we did not take a malaria prophylactic, but that was because of the time of year and the recommendaton of our daughter who was living there and said there were few mosquitoes that time of year. She was right. Can't remember seeing a mosquito and we spent plenty of time in the countryside.

OTOH, on our trip to Africa, completed this Oct., we definitely were forewarned to take pills. We chose malorone. I spent quite a bit of time researching it, even looking up studies published in medical journals. It was shown to be more effective with few side effects than other meds, inc. doxy. We did not see all that many mossies in Africa, but were glad we had taken the meds anyway after hearing so many horror stories of those who had been afflicted. We had no side affects from malorone, but we made sure to take the pill with food.

Jim