Turkey/Syria border - How real is the Malaria risk?
 

Most sites I've seen mention a malaria threat from March-Nov, but when we came through Turkey in Jan we tried to buy tablets for our return in March/April (couple of days I guess in that area) but couldn't find any available, even in the Mersin area.(Just pick up some on the way our surgery's nurse had advised us in the uk) We even went to the head guy in the hospital there and he said they didn't stock tablets because there was no risk.

Here in Aqaba we can get hold of tablets called Advaquenil with the active ingredient hydroxychloroquine sulphate - will that do ?

According to the data from The Ministry of Health, the type of malaria in Turkey is P.vivax which is not the terminal kind of malaria. In 2008, they scanned 616.570 blood samples and found 215 cases of P.vivax. Also, in an other article I read that risky time is fall and summer for Turkey. Spring and winter is much safer.

Cheers,
Ozgur

T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı

Thaks very much for that feedback - tho' non fatal or not - I don't fancy any form of Malaria ;)

I'd appreciate other input on this.

malaria
 

If unsure of the risk- take the medicine!

although P.vivax is of the non-fatal- variety.....its still a very very serious illness to contract. I have suffered from the P.vivax variety twice. whilst suffering body temps of 104+ my body started to shut down. It is NOT just like a 'bad flu' as some suggest...it is the worst illness imaginable.

Please look at this website - I have found it to be one of the best for research into infected areas. Home - Fit For Travel

the medicine that you have found, Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil), should be fine (see above website) but you can also consider using doxycycline for prolonged usage in certain areas.

never take the risk.....just take the medicine.

That is solid advice - thanks.

you ask "how real is malaria risk"
its real.
imo, bring nets and tabs.

(its not just like the Flu :()