Malaria

Hi I'm flying into Yangon this Friday then following the usual tourist destinations for a month, probably not going too far of the 'beaten' track'. As it's the dry season, does anyone know how high the risk is of catching malaria if I don't take tablets, or is it just best to take them and be cautious? Also, should I bring a mossey net with me?

Thanks for any sensible responses!

cities not a problem and it's quite cold in Inle and Hsipaw in the evenings,
I've never even used mozzie spray 30% deet in Myanmar don't worry and you can gte mozzie spray any chemist BKK 65 baht a bottle UK price around £3.99 in UK chemist, wherever you travel where there are mozzies the rooms will either have window screens or nets. forget the tabs just be sensible in areas where mozzies might be prevalent ie long slacks and shirt evenings if eating outside ie the beach resorts

I have always followed Montyman's advice; have never taken malaria meds and practice the DEET/net fairly religiously.
I have only been in Myanmar in Feb when it was fairly dry and few mozzies.

Agreed. Just spray on high DEET concentrate repellant.

I had one mosquito experience in Myanmar in many visits. It was this past May in Kachin State in a village near Myitsone, and for some reason I got about 20 bites on my ankles in like 2 minutes. Weirdest thing.

I also don't use tablets, but I am NOT a doctor etc. I was there in the rainy season this year and didn't get bit much at all- maybe 3-5 bites in a month. Everyone will tell you that their area is fine, but the next town is BAD! I always go with the above recommendations as well as taking garlic tablets and vitamin B which the mozzies hate. I also take Avon Skin So Soft lotion/sunscreen/repellent. I like it as it's a three in one, smells good and keeps any dengue carrying daytime mozzies off you as well as ticks. Have a great trip Burma is fantastic. I hope the people get their way politically.
Sorry, just had some other thoughts that might be helpful-Motherland is a great place to stay in Yangon and is quite popular (for Burma- read as you'll meet other people which will not happen much in most other places- they're often on their way out and can give you good up to the minute advice- very important right now I would think). I'd change money there (or at other guesthouses as you travel) and not on the 'real' black market- I met a girl who got pick pocketed after changing money and was stuck in Yangon for almost two weeks trying to get her passport replaced - expensive process. Also, just in case you don't know- Burma is US dollars CASH only. I met several people who didn't know that when they arrived and had thought they could use travellers checks or visa. In Yangon you can change travellers checks, at I think one place (this is before the recent uprising so may have changed) but I believe they charged them a 20% commision. You need to bring ALL cash and keep it locked up in guesthouse safes. I also met a few people who had had their rooms robbed etc. Make sure the guest house puts it in an envelope, tapes it, you sign over it, etc. They don't seem big on giving you a receipt for exactly what's inside, but I"m sure you could insist. I would be wary of a place that doesn't tape it up. They DO NOT want to deal with the police so you can definitely insist and any reliable place is not going to have a problem with it. It's a safe country generally and the people are wonderful, but you're basically walking around with a sign on your head that says, "Hey, I've got two-five years wages in my pocket, right here, right now!" and temptation being what it is... I had absolutely no problem, but did run into a fair number of people (as above) who were pickpocketed or robbed while they were out and you're really *&%$@ in a country with no banking system if you get robbed. Wow, this is getting long on unsolicited advice, but ONLY bring completely unmarked, unripped (not even a little bit!) bills. The people taking the money from you are far more frightened of what their bosses will do to them if they accept a marked or ripped bill than they are of not accepting payment from you- they'd rather turn your money away than accept anything that's not perfect- don't even fold them- I'm totally serious. We played this game of trying pass bills every day. If you're stuck with a bill, try and change it at your guesthouse, they're the most lenient, as I assume they know that they can pass it on to another traveller without too much trouble. Have a great trip- I hope this doesn't sound like I'm trying to put you off- I'm really not, just trying to make your trip trouble free.

Dengue is more an issue right now then Malaria

Thanks everyone, all welcome advice, and thanks for going off at a tangent ZoeJ, useful first hand info. LP seems to suggest that Myanmar is pretty safe generally, and it's always a shame to hear of travellers robbed or fleeced, but you can never be too careful.
Pete.

Unless you're traveling in the jungles, the risk of getting Malaria is low. Of course, low does not mean you can't get it, so do take the usual sensible precautions!

Hi!
We were in July 07 in Myanmar und travelled on the "beaten track" - I met just two moscitos!
Lisa

Not a bad idea to carry a bite stick to reduce the itching from my Alaska experience. WBW