Papua New Guinea

[Wobble]

I've just accepted a long term contract to work in Papua New Guinea and will be based in Port Moresby heading out this Wednesday.

I am looking for advice on Malaria as I do not want to take drugs for a long period of time and because I will be diving.

Can anyone advise me what options I may have other than "Don't get bitten" ?

[Brick]

Having taken part in a malaria vaccine trial, I can reliably say that there is no vaccine that works yet (I got malaria!). AFAIK, drugs are the only option, and malaria is a disease that you really don't want to get - kills up to 3 million people each year (and is pretty unpleasant as well).

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Wobble

I've just accepted a long term contract to work in Papua New Guinea and will be based in Port Moresby heading out this Wednesday.

Isn't this something your employer should be advising you on, afterall they are in the best position to give you that information.

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by Wobble

I've just accepted a long term contract to work in Papua New Guinea and will be based in Port Moresby heading out this Wednesday.

I am looking for advice on Malaria as I do not want to take drugs for a long period of time and because I will be diving.

Can anyone advise me what options I may have other than "Don't get bitten" ?

No other options in that part of the world I'm afraid. Everyone I know that's lived there had to take drugs, and two of them still caught it.

From what I've seen and heard, it's not worth taking the risk. If you don't want either malaria or the drugs, stay away from lowland PNG, that's pretty well the only other option I'm afraid.

Richard M.

[Adrian Kelland]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Isn't this something your employer should be advising you on, afterall they are in the best position to give you that information.

Yep, they are responsible on this one. OTOH (on the other hand ) it doesnt hurt to look for info yourself. I recall that different drugs are used depending on the resistance of local malaria types - you need specialist advice on this one.

Adrian

[Magi]

I am not sure that you have any alternatives other than to take medication in the long term. I think that all normal anti-malarials can be used other than Doxycycline. I am not a Doctor so professional advice should be taken. However, many people I know who live and work in Malaria infected areas dont take anything and accept the risk but try to use all other methods to try and prevent getting bitten in the first place. You will have other problems living and working in Port Moresby. Its a pretty lawless place and a friend was shot there a couple of years ago, luckily she survived to tell the tale and continues to live, work and dive there. My husband caught Dengue fever there also, we think he was bitten in Tufi not in Port Moresby and was pretty sick for some time. When going to visit him in hospital we were a couple of cars behind one which was hijacked by men with machetes (not sure about the spelling). Having said all that, if I had your chance, I would be off there to live like a shot. The diving is fantastic.

[Wobble]

Checking out the Stratford Pharmacy provided the following information:
Malaria Prevention:

There is a risk from malaria during your trip and so it is recommended that you take a course of prophylatic (preventative) anti-malarial drugs - Papua New Guinea poses a Very High Risk.

There are three possible choices of anti-malarial drugs for your trip:
Doxycycline Doxycycline would have been a suitable drug for your trip but it is not recommended to be used for periods over 2 years duration.

Malarone® (Atovaquone Proguanil) Malarone® would have been a suitable drug for your trip but it is not recommended to be used for periods over 3 months duration.

Lariam® (Mefloquine)
Lariam® (Mefloquine) would have been a suitable drug for your trip but it is not recommended to be used for periods over 2 years duration.

NB: The drugs listed above are based upon the recommendations given in the latest edition of the British National Formulary published by the BMA and RPSGB.

I will take it up with my employer (Telekom PNG) when I get there but those I have spoken to out in PNG have said that they don't take any drugs.

I know many people who have had malaria (or still have depending how you look at it) and have accepted the risk rather than take drugs long term. As I'm planning to be there 3 years+ and diving, I may have to rely on insect repellant and discuss the issue further with long term expats on arrival.

[Adrian Kelland]

Also are you going to want to dive out there. If 'yes' then your choice is restricted further. Again I think Larium is out.

Recommendations often change depending on the parts of the countries you visit. Big cities and tourist spots may be OK (less stagnant water) but off track/jungle may be completely different.

From what I have picked up on malarial drugs is obey the prescription. If they say start 2 weeks before you go and keep taking for 2 months after you return then do so.

Adrian

[BJ]

With one exception, everyone I know who lives out there and has said they will take the risk has finally caught malaria. The exception? He caught dengue fever!

[Richard Mason]

Originally Posted by BJ

With one exception, everyone I know who lives out there and has said they will take the risk has finally caught malaria. The exception? He caught dengue fever!

Face it. It's just a hellhole.



Richard M.