Malaria medication for Tropical delights cruise on Arcadia

[chloe rose]

We are cruising on Arcadia on 29th of December from Acapulco - countries visited include Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica. Can anyone tell me if we need to take malaria medication?

[Globaliser]

The advice that I have always had is that cruise ship passengers normally don't need malaria medication because ships usually only stop in port during the day. Malaria mosquitoes become active at dusk, by which time ships have usually sailed away from shore. While this doesn't entirely eliminate the risk of malaria, the risk posed by the medication is greater than the risk posed by that slight chance of getting malaria.

 

If you have an overnight stop in port, then you will want to get specialist medical advice.

 

But during the day, you should still take normal precautions against insect bites. For example, dengue fever is transmitted by mosquitoes that are active during the day.

[alibail]

As above, you won't normally require it. You can always buy "Mosquito Milk" from Boots. You spray it on your arms and legs and it stops the mosquito's biting.

 

I would double check with your doctor though.

[Druke I]

We've sailed in that part of the world several times and have not needed malaria precautions.

 

When we went to French Guyana (sp) and up the Amazon (Brazil) malaria pills were required/advised by US Health authorities.

[KenC]

We are cruising on Arcadia on 29th of December from Acapulco - countries visited include Nicaragua, Panama and Costa Rica. Can anyone tell me if we need to take malaria medication?

 

We did the same cruise last year - you don't need any malaria medication.

 

Have a blast - there is nothing like the firework display on New Year in Acapulco Bay!!!