I will be visiting Tikal and Copan for 2 days each in Feb. Are anti malarials necessary, or will using mosquito repellent and Buzz off clothing do?

Tourist malaria on a 2 day Tikal visit
virtually unheard of.

I usually stay indoors during feeding time use insect precautions suggested by www.cdc.gov works for dengue too

Being careful have not had a problem

can be easily treated if I do.

Actually some types of malaria are not easily treated and prove to be a life-long plague. qwovadus is correct that your risk is extremely low with such a short time if those are the only malarious areas you plan to visit. In addition to avoiding peak hours (dusk and dawn for malaria-carrying mozzies, though dengue mozzies keep a different clock, I've read) wearing long sleeves/pants at those times helps along with great repellent and permethrin-impregnated clothing (either Buzz-off or self applied).

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/yellowBoo...ngueFever.aspx
http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travel/index.htm

Hopefulist- I am curious as to whether you used an anti-malarial during your numerous visits to Copan and Tikal. I did take Malarone for my Cambodia trip, without any side effects, but the anti-malarial recommended for Cambodia is different from the one recommended for Guatemala.

Yes, I've taken chloroquine on previous trips to CA into areas the CDC considers risky. We haven't noticed any side effects. I'm usually in those areas for weeks, though, instead of days.

My Uncle Chuck contracted malaria during WWII and suffered through devastating revisits of the disease periodically until his death 5 years ago - not something I'd wish on my worst enemy. It's a personal choice, though, whether you take the pills or not. Happy trails!

All Malaria I know of is pretty easily treatable these days even the relapsing kind with Primaquine.

www.cdc.gov

Malaria in CA 2006 only 1-2 cases

none in short term tourists.

both easily treated.

Considering millions of visitors in 2006 odds of getting it as a short term tourist being careful literally a million to one.

Chloroquine is the preventive

many side effects noted search

www.drugs.com

For me risk of side effects clearly
outweigh benefit.

Have fun,

I seem to be in between the 2 of the previous posters. On our trip to Guatemala last December, we were only in Tikal 2 days and in the highlands the rest of the time. I didn't take anti-malarial medication and just took lots of precautions. When we went to Roatan in April for a week, I decided to take the anti-malarial medication. I didn't notice any side effects. I also used repellent a lot, but we didn't see a lot of mosquitoes. My husband didn't take the medication.

Not sure what I'd do in the future, to be honest. I guess it would depend on where and how long I was going to be in an area where malaria is prevalent. Our guide did tell us that malaria was NOT a problem in Tikal itself, whether that was true or not, I don't know.

Qwovadis - Could you provide a link to the numbers of cases page you're using? I'm interested in that but haven't been able to find specifics on the CDC site or by googling. 1-2 cases in a year in CA is hard to believe when the CDC still lists many high and moderate risk areas, but it would sure be great if that was the case. Please share...