Do I Need Malaria Shots?

[beachbev]

I read recently that Belize & Honduras have a recommendation that travelers get a malaria shot? This scares me. I may change cruises. Any advice?

[LHT28]

We did not have any problems this past year just take a good bug spray with DEET

 

I did not know they had shots for Malaria:confused:

I hate needles either way

[paul929207]

I don't think they have shots for Malaria. When we go to an area where it is a problem, we take perscription pills. We take one a week before we leave, on a week while we are there and one a week for 3 weeks after we return. We have not had any problems.

[psbtrvlr]

I read recently that Belize & Honduras have a recommendation that travelers get a malaria shot? This scares me. I may change cruises. Any advice?

 

According to the CDC, the mosquito that carries malaria is not out during the day. Are you going to be there at night?

[kitty9]

The only time when it's advised is if you're going to be going way outside of the cities or outside at night in those countries.

[Sheffie]

I have a medical condition which requires me to pay special attention where I could get some disease, such as malaria. I asked my specialist about shots, and he said that I didn't need to take any extra precaution when on a cruise to ports in the Caribbean. I have had my hepatitis shots, (cannot remember which letter it is), which a lot of people have as a normal precaution here in the states.

 

Don't worry. Anti-malaria drugs are not commonly recommended.

[cb at sea]

Cruise passengers aren't going to be in any area long enough to worry about getting vaccinations. And, they aren't required at all. It's only if you're stayiing the the "wilds' of one of these countries for days at a time that you may need to get some protection.

[Keith1010]

As the others have said if you are not going very inland don't take it. And by the way, it would not be a shot. It would be tablets. And there is downside to taking them. If you are not going inland and you are not out at night I would not take them if it was me and if I considered it I would talk with a health specialist about which you will have to do anyway.

 

Keith

[Krazy Kruizers]

Years ago we knew that we were going to do an all day hiking tour in Costa Rica -- deep in the jungle.

 

Our doctor recommended that we take the Larium pills because of that excursion.

 

Other wise the only other time we took the pills was when we went to South America and knew we were going to be off the beaten path.

 

We were just in Belize this past spring -- didn't need to take any pills.

 

We do make certain that we take a spray with DEET along with us.

[G'ma]

The CDC has a website where you can find the latest travel advisories concerning health issues worldwide.

 

Right now, there is no advisory out for Honduras or Belize.

[Karysa]

When I give blood, Canadian Blood Services always asks where you have traveled to in the last 12 months, I think it is. There have been areas that I have cruised to that were on the "can not" donate blood if you have traveled to this location list. It is related to malaria as well. So they may be a good resource as well.

Karysa

[cruiselover57]

I read recently that Belize & Honduras have a recommendation that travelers get a malaria shot? This scares me. I may change cruises. Any advice?

 

I don't ever remember any type of shot for malaria when I went to Malaysia in the mid-1980's. I do remember taking malaria pills to control diarrhea.

[Teetype]

I read recently that Belize & Honduras have a recommendation that travelers get a malaria shot? This scares me. I may change cruises. Any advice?

 

Please don't play with your health. The following link is to the CDC travelers website. That and your doctor should be the ONLY opinions you following concerning travelers health needs.

 

http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx

 

Cheers and Good Health to You!

Tee