TravelBuzz! - Malaria in Luang Prabang, Laos?

I will be making a side trip from BKK to Luang Prabang for 3 days. I will stay at a moderately nice place on the Mekong with AC. The info I read is mixed about malaria risk in this area. Does anyone have experience/knowledge/recommendation about taking malaria pills or not for this short trip?

I was there in March and never did. I never went off into the woods though, but around town even at night I don't recall any mosquitos.

I used to do the Malaria pill thing and stopped a few years ago although if I was planning to travel to some place with a lot of woods/swamps or whatever I would.

I believe that if you use a good repellent + use a mossy-net around your bed at night you will be just fine.Others may disagree .

Talk to foreigners who live in Asia!

I have lived and travelled in Asia for 10 years now. Here are my 2 cents!

Never take those malaria pills! If you really want to buy them, then take them after you think you got malaria and need to get to hospital.... Keep in mind that these pills are very unhealthy, have various side effects and case liver and kidney damage. Moreover, many pills do not work anymore against some strains. Ask the people who live here, they never take them!

Aircon doesn’t help much against mosquitoes! Only if you (properly) close your room and spray it with some insecticide will your room be free of mossies.

Mosquito nets do work, however you have to check them very well before you sleep. They should be rinsed in liquid insecticide monthly to help kill them.

Long pants and sleeves help a little, as does repellent. This is however not fail-safe. Be alert at sunset, this is top mossie hour!

Getting a bite from a mosquito does not mean you have malaria, relax! Getting a bite from a malaria-infected mosquito does not mean you get malaria, relax! When your immune system is low and you get a bite you might develop malaria (happens seldom to tourists!) go to hospital quick. They will treat you well and you will live to tell the tale without relapses!

Now for the important part of this post;

BEWARE OF DENGUE FEVER!

This mosquito born disease is much more potent and deadly then malaria. There are no pills available to prevent it. It is often misdiagnosed! Unlike malaria it kills! If you develop fever and heavy headache get a good diagnose. Read the symptoms on WHO website and be in the know!

If you don't want to get into the lengthy schedules of prophylactic medication for such a short visit, please use care and caution to avoid contact: mosquito netting, Deet, long shirts/pants.
I took the medications when I was traveling in SE Asia, but they can be nasty; so can malaria.
Suggest you check out the CDC website on this.

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I was in Luang Prabang for 3 days in mid-October. I took and am still taking doxicycline as a malarial prophalaxis. Others take Larium, but it may have severe side effects.

Stayed at the Villa Santi which had a mosquito net over the bed. In fact, this was the only hotel in SE Asia that had one. Did not notice mosquitos as the rivers were running quite high and there seemed to be little or no stagnant water around. Included in this stay was a five hour slow boat trip to the caves (caves are disappointing) with a stop at the whiskey village, SA paper village and lunch across from the caves complete with live chickens walking around.

So far, I have no dengue, malaria or avian flu symptoms. Do not obsess about disease and have a good time. Try the Cafe Sene, diagonally across from the Villa Santi for expresso ($.80) for a full cup. Laos is a dollar economy country so exchange only a small amount of currency. IMO, spring rolls in Laos are uniformly lousy. Coffee, however, is as good as in Costa Rica.

Be sure to carry deet, it was quite helpful when I leaned my arm into a swarm of little stinging ants. A quick spray got them to drop off and die. They did manage a couple of stings.

Thanks all. I'm not going to obsess, and i've never taken malaria tablets before in asia or anywhere, but i do get bittem easily. Thanks for the coffee tip. Did yo have a good time? I'm staying at a renovated colonial place called Sala Prabang. Do you know it?

No, I have not heard of your hotel (guesthouse?). Yes, I actually enjoyed Luang Prabang. Note: If you are looking for exciting night-life, a fast pace, expect to see a vehicle go by more than once every half hour on the main street, then Luang Prabang will not be for you.

At first, I thought Luang Prabang was an unfriendly place. Finally, I figured out that seeing visitors is so new to the inhabitants that they have not yet figured out how to respond to them. After day 1, you will probably feel like you have been part of the place for a period of time. You recognize people on the street, know where to eat and drink, receive smiles from some of the shopkeepers and vendors. Keep in mind that you can do the entire downtown in a leisurely 1.5-2 hour walk. I do recommend the boat ride, book at Mala Travel for approx. $4, lunch extra, but 1 hour free internet thrown in. Also one of the cheaper rates in town at 150 kip/minute should you book something thru them. Please say hello to Fabrice and his mom at Naga Designs for me. Tell him that MrsO really liked the Murano beads and would like to see photos of the others that we saw. He has my e-mail address.

Again, enjoy. Remember, the visa is $30 and the departure tax at the airport is $10.

I can't recall if sprays with DEET are readily available in Bangkok and Laos - or should I bring from home?

Of course DEET containing spray is available in Bangkok, they have a wide variaty of them, spray, creme, lotion. Also stuff without DEET. It will be mentioned in the small print on the back of the bottle.

I am in BKK right now and on the way to HCM(SGN), havent seen 1 mossie yet, but take care and have fun!