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Anti Malarial - Malerone

vicar (817 posts) • 0

I'm sure the entry-exit inspection and quarantine clinic does all this. The place where foreigners go to get health checks. There should be a department there that deals with what you are looking for.

lemon lover (1006 posts) • +1

@kawakarpo
As stated before the change of contracting malaria are not that big and nowadays good and effective treatment is available. This makes the need for prophylactic treatment less needed.
Your indications of where you go are rather global. If you stay at an air-conditioned hotel in these places your chance of contracting malaria are pretty slim. If you stay with local farmers, especially when they have pigs then your change of contracting malaria and dengue are much bigger.
Burgon stated that he would be staying in the jungle for a couple of weeks. Question is is this the real jungle or not, for some people 5Km outside Kunming is already jungle (And for some any other street apart from Wenlinjie)
Much depends on your own protective measures; long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes make quite a difference. Protecting exposed skin with DEET and sleeping under a good mosquito net. As said malaria is well treatable especially if artisunate is at hand. Dengue is a completely different story and should be avoided at all cost. The protective measures are the same as for malaria.

Alien (3819 posts) • 0

Have been to Luang Namtha many times, for a week or so each. Nothing there happened that even reminded me of malaria. Have also been to Phongsali and Bokea, or shorter periods - no problems.
Not that I'm not saying there's absolutely no malaria in these places.

Napoleon (1187 posts) • +1

I think you should be asking doctors this, not the people of GoKunming.

If you're that bothered about these things there's always the option of not going at all.

If that fails, get yourself down to the entry exit clinic and get a yellow book full of injections. They'll know what you need and don't need more than anyone on here, and they have a few maps in the waiting room showing you all the infected areas for a few deadly diseases. Bring your passport and a few photos. Chinese people are going to Laos all the time, as you'll see by the car registration plates when you get there. That particular hospital will know the ins and outs of your question and be able to get you what you need.

Its quite handily near the Lao embassy at Ri Xin Road, you'll be there for a visa anyway so may as well drop in and see for yourself.

Burgon (43 posts) • 0

Thanks for that.

I think I'm a lot closer to finding where I can/can't buy Malerone in Kunming in relation to my original question.

Interesting sidelines, too.

Cheers

@Napoleon - It would be precautionary not a bother. Thanks for the address

lemon lover (1006 posts) • +2

@Burgon
Malerone is a brand name drug also the patent expired some years ago. Still there is no Chinese supplier. Since it has been marketed mainly as a prophylactic it was mainly aimed at the tourist/traveller section and this enabled Glaxo Wellcome to keep the price very high. These factors make it very unlikely to find the drug here in Kunming.

The area you go to has not a high prevalence of malaria and if you pick it up it can be treated well and effectively nowadays, this makes the need for prophylactic treatment less of an issue. Still it is good to take precautions because there is a change of Dengue fever as well. Thus long sleeves and trousers and closed shoes (Or like Peter99 double socks) and DEET on exposed skin when you really go into the jungle or stay in farmer huts.

The “Yunnan International Travel Healthcare Centre” that Napoleon mentioned (I presume because a entry exit clinic does not exist) is at Min Xiou Section near metro station Rixin Two blocks south of the station along the river). Doubt that they have the medication but might be able to sent you to the right place.

See:
www.gokunming.com/[...]
Or:
map.qq.com/[...]

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