Mosquito net - Flores, Alor, Pantar - USE IT? CAN BUY IT?

Hello,

we would like to travel from Flores eastwards to Alor, Pantar and back in July.

- Do you recommend to use a mosquito net?
- If yes, can you buy one of reasonable quality in Maumere or in Denpasar, Bali OR yould you rather bring it from Europe?

What is the risk of malaria in this area in July? (Would you know which malaria family is living there and which pill is the most effective?)

Thanks a lot:-)
Petr

I will be in Flores by end of this week. I met a traveller who was in the area a few years ago and who learned that the risk of malaria in Flores without prophylaxis is 1:60 (considered very very high), and that it remains present year-round as even in the dry season it can rain every day. He said there were hundreds of mosquitos in his room every night.

With prophylaxis, the risk drops considerably to 1:1 million. I have been advised to take Chloroquin tablets, 250 mg, 2 tabs per week (take on the same day), starting 1-2 weeks before you enter the area, take it during your trip, and up to 4 weeks after the trip. Mosquito nets must be used, and can be bought in Denpasar. Cover up as much as possible (socks, long-sleeved shirts) and use a good insect repellant regularly.

I have had all this on advise, but I have not been to Flores myself. I would also like to hear from those who've been. And if you get more info yourself, please post it here.

thanks and good luck on your trip.

we went to flores 2 years ago in july and august; didn't found more mosquitos there than anywhere else in indo, most places had mosquito nets, most also with holes, so bring at least a tape.
tried once to buy a net at lombok, only found a very bulky one. if you want a more conveniant one treated with a repellant, you better bring it over from europe;
a local guy from maumere told us, that malaria didn't really seem to be a probleme at this peroid (but it definitely is a big concern in the rainy season);
it's of curse a personal choice, in general we avoid to take anti malaria treatments, as we didn't supported well the side effects (which can be huge, read the notice - it's alarming). anyway it doesn't avoid you to get the illness, it only avoids you the symtoms (which generaly appeare weeks later, at the time you'll might be back at home and get a good treatment there); some of the treatments which are used as prophylaxis are also used to stop the symptoms if you got them, so you can take them with you in case.
most important is to try to avoid to get bitten after sunset as patricia recommends;
indonesians told us that when you take a very high dose of vitamine b 12 mosquitos won't like your smell anymore; i'm not sure if that works, we tried is while being there and were less bitten, but it seems that you have to start that some weeks before coming to make it more efficiant;
if anybody knows more about that i would love to get the information, too.

enjoy your trip, it's an amazing region!

we went to flores 2 years ago in july and august; didn't found more mosquitos there than anywhere else in indo, most places had mosquito nets, most also with holes, so bring at least a tape.
tried once to buy a net at lombok, only found a very bulky one. if you want a more conveniant one treated with a repellant, you better bring it over from europe;
a local guy from maumere told us, that malaria didn't really seem to be a probleme at this peroid (but it definitely is a big concern in the rainy season);
it's of curse a personal choice, in general we avoid to take anti malaria treatments, as we didn't supported well the side effects (which can be huge, read the notice - it's alarming). anyway it doesn't avoid you to get the illness, it only avoids you the symtoms (which generaly appeare weeks later, at the time you'll might be back at home and get a good treatment there); some of the treatments which are used as prophylaxis are also used to stop the symptoms if you got them, so you can take them with you in case.
most important is to try to avoid to get bitten after sunset as patricia recommends;
indonesians told us that when you take a very high dose of vitamine b 12 mosquitos won't like your smell anymore; i'm not sure if that works, we tried is while being there and were less bitten, but it seems that you have to start that some weeks before coming to make it more efficiant;
if anybody knows more about that i would love to get the information, too.

enjoy your trip, it's an amazing region!

Thank you, natw,
Petr

I just got back from my trip to NTT. I bought a mosquito net in Denpasar as advised, but I didn't need it nor did I use it (except as a pillow during the long bus trips!). All the hotels/guesthouses I stayed in had nets, and in the mountain areas (Moni, Bajawa, Ruteng) it was cool enough that there were very few mosquitos. The only place were there were quite a few was in Labuanbajo, but the hotel also had nets. Everyone I met who was traveling used repellent when necessary. I also continue to take choloroquin.

Btw, a french man who I met several times on the way from Moni to Labuanbajo had fevers and had himself tested in Labuanbajo. He was told it was Malaria and was given a treatment course of pills. When I last spoke to him he was on his way to Denpasar to have himself re-tested (the clinic in labuanbajo was very small...).

Difficult to make any conclusions... it didn't seem to me that there were very many mosquitos, but the risk does seem very real and you definitely need to take precautions.