The Caribbean - Dominican Republic, Malaria?

My wife and I are preparing to go to the Dominican Republic next week, specifically a resort in Puerto Plata (the very Americanized region).

Our 1-year old daughter went to the pediatrician today, and the doctor freaked out on my wife because of the Malaria risks. She wants to put our daughter on Choloroquine (an immuno-suppresant used in the treatment of Malaria).

The CDC specifically has a warning for areas of the DR that border Haiti (and one other province far away from Puerto Plata).

Anybody have any experience with the DR and Puerto Plata? I'm very skeptical about giving Chloroquine to my 1-year old daughter to prevent something that appears to be highly unlikely to occur.

If your doctor advises it, I would trust her judgment. The DR isn't really up on the times, so it wouldn't surprise me if there are some funky diseases to be caught down there.

Hell no !!

Jungles of Panama yes.
Puerta Plata no.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no03/04-0898.htm
this is an article published on the CDC website specifically about travel to the resorts.
take a lot of mosquito repellant.
Have your pediatrician consult with an Infectious Disease specialist or with a physician that specializes in travel.
also look at this site.
http://www.thetraveldoctor.com/malaria.html

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol11no03/04-0898.htm
this is an article published on the CDC website specifically about travel to the resorts.
take a lot of mosquito repellant.
Have your pediatrician consult with an Infectious Disease specialist or with a physician that specializes in travel.
also look at this site.
http://www.thetraveldoctor.com/malaria.html

I read both of these websites, along with a bunch of other comments. I didn't find any concrete evidence to suggest any serious threat, nor a nominal one. The resort area is supposed to be very Americanized, which means I'm sure they spray frequently for mosquitos. We're going to bring the Chloroquine with us, since it's the treatment drug as well as the prevention drug. However, at this point, we don't intend to give it to her unless she shows symptoms.

I was born in Puerto Rico and lived in Puerto Plata for many years. i would not be worried about malaria there. However, I would follow the advice of another poster and take repellant. Dengue fever can be an issue in the Caribbean islands during the rainy season, not widespread but it's better to avoid the mosquitoes, if possible.