Malaria in Cavite - Free for 5 Years

[KeithD]

IMUS, Cavite — There has been no incidence of malaria in any part of Cavite in the last five years, even as the number of dengue cases has escalated in the province through the years ..... Read More ...

[Doc Alan]

This is good news about malaria There is an update on Malaria Control Programme Philippines, with recent maps ... see http://www.actmalaria.net/downloads/...hilippines.pdf
If you do decide to visit malaria - endemic provinces, and take antimalarials, here is a reminder:
* Drugs for prevention of malaria are not prescribable on a FP10 ( the prescription form used by GP's to prescribe NHS drugs ). The relevant NHS regulations are laid out in " DH (1995) Malaria prophylaxis regulation permitting GPs to charge for prescribing or providing anti-malarial drugs. London : Department of Health ". Some GPs do prescribe malaria prophylaxis on FP10 forms and their Primary Care Trusts are willing to allow this - but they are breaking NHS regulations. The guidance states that private prescription forms should be used to prescribe such drugs.
Note, however, that the UK is about the only country that gives some ( the majority of common ) travel vaccinations on the NHS.
Here is my advice :
* Don't bother paying for a private prescription in addition to the drugs.
* Buy the drugs online ( for example www.lloydspharmacy.com ) or at a pharmacy such as Boots ( www.boots.com).
* Beware that you may get inaccurate advice from the pharmacy about which drugs to take . I just did, this afternoon
These are the recommended drugs for the Philippines - specify EITHER of these when ordering :
MEFLOQUINE ( Lariam ) - one 250 mg tablet weekly 3 weeks ( or at least 1 week ) before you go, every week in the malarious area, and for 4 weeks when you leave that area. Expect to pay over 40 GBP for a 3 week trip.
DOXYCYCLINE - one 100 mg tablet daily from 2 days before you go, every day in the malarious area, and every day for 4 weeks after. Expect to pay up to 40 GBP for a 3 week trip.
Side efects are generally mild and of limited duration. Have a check up with your doctor a few weeks before you go, when you can also update any free vaccinations .
Of course the NHS will TREAT malaria imported into this country ( http://www.hpa.org.uk/web/HPAweb&HPA.../1195733773780 - 1761 last year, with 7 deaths ) , but they won't pay to prevent it !