malaria pills required in October???

I´ve lived here all my life and never have taken any malaria pills... you should be allright with some mosquito repelent...

It´s been rainig all year, just hada a great morning today though from Riobamba Clear with gret sights of Chimborazo.... so do come prepared fro rain.

Enjoy Ecuador
Wlady

Most parts of Ecuador you're ok Malaria-wise but some parts are are malarial zones - people on this board are probably not accredited to give you such advice, best see a medical professional and then make your mind up - I can tell you that I don't bother, then again having said that I did have a weak-bout of Malaria which I believe was contracted in the Ecuadorian jungles (around Cuyabeno).

If you're going deep into the jungle, I would recommend taking malaria pills. The risk of getting stung by a malariamosquito is really low, but it's always better to prevent this.
I took Lariam and was lucky to not have any side effects. But I agree, go check a medical professional and see what he/she says.

Hi
As a jungle guide I´d say never mind the season for foreigners specailly it is always required to get the pills, however if you want the buddy tale, I´d say on this time of the year it is no sooo important, keep in mind pills wont hurt you in any manner but keep you sane and healthy, and when traveling thats the key of all success you know that! :-)

Hugs
David V

<blockquote>Quote
<hr> keep in mind pills wont hurt you in any manner but keep you sane and healthy<hr></blockquote> Sorry to disagree here - but if you were to take malaria pills for an extended period it could seriously damage your liver (bare in mind I'm talking about taking the pills for months on end). Plus depending which pills you're taking there could be other negative effects - e.g. if you take Doxy remember that it's an antibiotic and thus if taken for long periods could reduce the effectiveness of other antibiotics at a time when you may actually need them.
Now getting Malaria isn't nice - and if you're only gonna take the pills for a short while (a few weeks) then you'll be fine - but don't make the mistake of thinking that they are completely harmless.

Ok nice to see this thread start to shine here..

Well let me explain his further.
I guess mayarodo wont be spending months on the jungle or the coast where malaria is present mostly
Now keep in mind that regarding Ecuador it has 4 main regios, Coastal, Highlands, Jungle and the Islands!

This means that you will need to take Malaria pills only few days before going into the jungle while you travel it and once you go back the highlands for example it makes ANY sense to take them as it is literally impossible for malaria mosquitos to surivive in such cold weathers.. In the coast it can be an issues but again you can start taking pills if you go there.

Alos keep in mind that the more time youspend the easier it will be for your body for getting used to weather conditions and getting self defeses, etc Well you know there are no such defenses for malaria but case is that in Ecuador malaria is not a big issue since several decades ago.

Ecuador has a Dpt called Malñaria Control office working all around teh country (except the highlands) they just fumigated my House 7 days ago in fact and this just as prevention! very good.

To say the true I have not seen any malaria case here in my city Puyo (in the jungle) for 7 yeras I guess. well maybe wrong as Im not in a Hospital but this cases when appear tend to make lots of noise as people will rapidly go scared. I must say ANY citizen or resident foreigner is or must take Malaria pills everyday as you can wonder. so thisis moreof a legal and preventive requiremetn but once traveling it is more up to you to take them or not.

As always use this advice as friendly note and never as a medical recommendation. you know that! ;-)

Hope this helps to put your mind in peace.

All the best

David V.