Sorry, Another Malaria Question!

Still weighing up whether to take anti-malarial tablets or not, and still a little confused. Been reading back through the forum and now have a list of which parts of my holiday I might be at risk. Can someone please confirm the following is correct?

Mt Lavinia Safe

Heritence Kandalama Low Risk

Minneriya Low Risk

Polonnnaruwa Low Risk

Kandy Safe

Nuwara Eliya Safe

Negombo Safe

So I think basically the two nights we spend at Kandalama hotel, visiting Minneriya national park and Polonnnaruwa will be the only time were at risk?

Sorry, Another Malaria Question!

Your assesments are correct.

Hans

Sorry, Another Malaria Question!

Yes, you%26#39;re right... it%26#39;s only your cultural triangle locations where there is a small risk of malaria carrying mosquitoes. Whether you choose to take anti-malarials is your choice. Staying in the bigger hotels with air con. etc., you are protected somewhat. Just make sure you are adequately covered and use a lotion with deet if you go out between dusk and dawn ... such as on a late afternoon safari to Minneriya.

However, mosquitoes carry other diseases aswell, such as dengue fever and you%26#39;d do well to protect yourself against bites in all areas of Sri Lanka, using sprays, lotions, mosquito nets, coils or whatever. You are unlikely to get a lot of problems in the hillcountry .. even Kandy is not too bad, but there are lots of mosquitoes in the coastal areas and if you%26#39;re prone to bites ... as I am ... you%26#39;ll be attacked for sure!!!

Sue

Hi there...

Just to add to already good advice, i was at Heritance Kandalama last Novemeber for 5 nights, never even saw a mozzy let alone be bitten by one !, i did however cover up with plenty of AUTA every night though !, always wise to tkae that sort of precaution.

Regards

Dave

Ooops...

Sorry, a typing error, should have of course read AUTAN !, really must get my finger nails cut !

Regards

Dave

Thanks for your replies Hans, Sue and Dave.

Desperatly trying to justify not taking any malaria pills, don%26#39;t want any nasty side effects to spoil my wedding and Honeymoon.

I think I%26#39;ve read before that Heritence Kandalama spray for mosquitoes so it%26#39;s probably the Minneriya dusk safari will be the only risk area.

Actually just had a thought, what do sri lankan people do to protect against malaria? I%26#39;m guessing they don%26#39;t spend a years salary on expensive pills!

Or do they have some sort of natural tolerance to it ?

I THINK I remember a local friend from the Kuliyapitiya area saying he had yearly injections ... is that a possibility?

But certainly, it was me with my white skin that seemed to get all the bites. The locals were plagued by a tiny black insect which bit them but left me alone .... sorry, no idea what it was!!

beerowl... are you getting married at the Kandalama?

expatally....no where getting married back in blighty, Kandalama does look like a fantastic place for a wedding though! You could have monkey ushers and everything!!

I only asked cause we%26#39;re getting married there in June, we weren%26#39;t planning on taking anti-malarials and we%26#39;re travelling from dambulla, kandy, bandarwela, uda walawe and dikwella/hikkaduwa.

I%26#39;m going to ask the hotel to get the monkeys to act as my bridesmaids and page boys!!

all the best for your wedding.