Papua New Guinea

[BJ]

Don't underestimate the seriousness of malaria. The mosquito kills more people every year than any other animal.

... and from my own experience, I certainly would not take my wife and kids to Port Moresby.

[Zero-Viz]

Originally Posted by BJ

Don't underestimate the seriousness of malaria. The mosquito kills more people every year than any other animal.

... and from my own experience, I certainly would not take my wife and kids to Port Moresby.

You reall need to take the pills and finish the course. I knew someone who came home and didn't finish the course, caught malaria (in his brain if I remember rightly but I'm no doctor)

It killed him....

[Wobble]

Thank's for all your feedback. There is obviously no simple answer. There are drugs available but none recommended for long term use and some if not most are incompatible with scuba diving.

My GP did not recommend any drug for long term use and advised me to seek advice in PNG. As I am not going there on holiday for a few weeks/months I'll just have to play it by ear and be liberal with the DEET.

[The_blue]

Ask at the chemists, and then ask another.


Malarone isn't bad, expencive but little side effects. I used it in Africa.

Paludrine/Avloclor is used in resistant areas, just remember to take with a good meal. The once a week tablet in the pack is foul tasting!!

https://www.wmsplc.co.uk/Malaria_Pro...99462&GID=9054

sign up an account for cheaper drugs

[Tazzie]

I'm really confused over no anti malaria drugs being "safe" over prolongued use. Me and my family lived in the middle east for 17 years, we took Paludrine daily over that period and *bugger the name's popped out of my head* a weekly tablet in addition.

Is it becasue it's a different area, the use with diving or just more knowledge these days?

I recently looked into taking anti malaria tablets to lessen the potential for cramp when diving, decided that although it lessened the chances of cramp the side effects were too big a risk to outweigh the possibility of getting cramp

[Phud]

Becareful with Larium very nasty side effects sends you loopy

G+T with Quinnine in the tonic, also paludrine for me but very nasty when not washed down and it got stuck in the throat

[scuba_finn]

Hi Wobble, well you've moved to a part of the world with fabulous diving, which should compensate for Moresby not being the easiest city to live in! We went to PNG last September despite all our Aussie mates (we were leaving Sydney after 3 years) telling us we were mad to go there, it's so dangerous, etc... had a great time and found the locals (in New Britain anyway, where we based ourselves) to be the friendliest we'd met travelling anywhere.

But I digress...

Re: malaria drugs, none of the expats we met over there were taking them - too dangerous to take long term as you said. Everyone said they just treated it when (note: not IF!) they got malaria - some people swore by a Chinese herbal remedy called Artemether which I think you can buy at pharmacies there - they said it cleared up pretty quickly. This was from the people who run a dive resort in Kimbe Bay and have been there for years and years. Can't comment from personal experience though!

Some people take an antibiotic instead of malaria tablets, but again it can't be good to take antibiotics long term (as they kill off all the good bacteria as well as the bad) and they also make your skin very light-sensitive - you can often spot the travellers taking this option by their bright pink noses!

By the way, I got your PM asking about dive sites so will respond directly. Happy to post the response here too if that helps.