by Malaria Q&A
QUESTION
Is malaria a risk in Hong Kong and Southern China?
ANSWER
There is no reported malaria transmission in Hong Kong, nor in the provinces directly bordering it in southern China. However, there is some risk of malaria in other parts of southern and central China, notably in the provinces of Anhui, Guizhou, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, and Yunnan, though rare cases may also be observed in other rural parts of the country between December and May below <1,500 m (4,921 ft).
by Malaria Q&A
QUESTION
How is malaria’s impact on tourism?
ANSWER
These days, with effective preventative measures such as prophylactic medication and long-lasting insecticide treated bednets, the risk of contracting malaria as a tourist is greatly reduced. However, there is some evidence that the risk of contracting malaria is a deterrent for some tourists, particularly during high transmission periods of the year, in certain places.
For example, in South Africa, a group of researchers surveyed tourist facilities in KwaZulu-Natal and found that risk of contracting malaria was the major cause behind lack of bed occupancy. Improving tourists’ awareness of how the disease is transmitted and ways of preventing infection will go a long way to reducing the negative impact of the disease on the tourism industry in malarial countries.
by Malaria Q&A
QUESTION:
Should I worry about Malaria while in Saipan for 1-2 months? I leave soon and would like to know if I should be vaccinated.
ANSWER:
The first thing I should say, which is crucially important, is that THERE IS NO VACCINE FOR MALARIA! There are, however, many other ways of effectively ensuring that you do not get infected when travelling to or living in malaria transmission areas. In any case, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) considers the Northern Mariana Islands (including Saipan) as free from malaria, so you probably don’t need to worry about asking your doctor about preventative medicine, which you should certainly do if travelling to a highly malarial zone. There are certainly various mosquito species present on the islands, however, and so it might still be beneficial to take precautions against getting bitten, such as wearing insect repellant and long-sleeved clothing, especially at dawn, dusk and at night.