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Malaria Awareness:
at Risk Even in Honduras

from the October, 1999 issue of Undercurrent

Though malaria has long been a consideration for divers traveling to Pacific destinations, those heading to Honduras and Belize usually don't think much about it. That era of complacency may be at an end. A CDC representative recently told Undercurrent that there have been confirmed malaria cases among tourists whose only recent travel had been to Roatán, and they said that they now recommend that travelers to the Bay Islands take chloroquine (Aralen). Other areas of central America are also considered malaria risks, although the Caribbean (except areas of Haiti and the Dominican Republic) is still basically malaria-free.

World Health Organization statistics breaking down malaria infections by country reveal some startling trends. While divers have long thought of destinations like Papua New Guinea as significant malaria risks, in WHO's most recent stats actual annual per capita rates of infection in PNG (14.84 cases/1000 population) were less than half what they were in Belize (38.33 cases/1000 population). Similarly, rates of infection in Thailand (1.95 cases/1000 population) and Malaysia (1.90 cases/1000 population) were a fraction of those that occurred in Honduras (7.44 cases/1000 population). Of course, these Central American rates still pale in comparison with the malaria risk in Vanuatu (58.3 cases/1000 population) and the Solomon Islands (a staggering 312.19 cases/1000 population), but they've nonetheless become significant.

While the bulk of Central American malaria infections occur in the interior, malaria is a confirmed presence in resort areas in Belize, Honduras, and the Bay Islands, according to the CDC. For divers taking side trips into the interior or traveling through mainland airports, malaria risk may be significant. But in spite of the CDC warnings, none of the travel information that's come our way from Belize resorts makes any mention of malaria risk or recommends that guests take chloroquine. (Note that malaria prophylaxis must begin well in advance of exposure to the parasite to be effective, so divers planning trips should see their doctors early.)

As if the increase in infections weren't enough, the lethal P. falciparum species of malaria is becoming increasingly resistant to medications such as chloroquine. In fact, chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites are fast becoming the norm. Chloroquine has been so ineffective in Kenya that the government recently banned use of the drug. Chloroquine-resistant malarial parasites are now found in tropical South America and are spreading, with chloroquine-resistant infection currently a risk as far north as southern Panama. If the northward movement continues, chloroquine-resistant malaria may soon become a threat to divers visiting Central America. The risk of contracting chloroquine-resistant malaria is still endemic in areas of the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Indonesia, Thailand, and other areas of southeastern Asia.

Despite its high toxicity and unpleasant side effects, including nausea, dizziness, and insomnia, the CDC still generally recommends treatment with mefloquine (Lariam) for travelers where chloroquine-resistant malaria is common. But even Lariam is losing its punch. Recent CDC reports confirm that mefloquine-resistant malaria has been reported in Thailand. Our first-hand reports from divers taking Lariam who returned from PNG with malaria suggests that the problem of mefloquine-resistant malaria may be becoming more widespread.

An effective vaccine certainly seems long overdue, but, despite ongoing research, vaccines have proved elusive. Some recently-developed vaccines may prove more successful. A genetically engineered DNA vaccine is the most exciting prospect. One has already passed initial human tests; the vaccine was well-tolerated and produced an immune response in almost half the recipients. Plans are underway to test a second experimental vaccine designed to take a new tack by targeting P. falciparum, the deadliest malaria parasite, at each stage of its life cycle within its human host. Perhaps the era of nasty antimalarials will soon be history and we can return to simpler drugs like coffee, kava kava, and nitrogen on our dive trips.

Should I Take Lariam?

While the progress that's been made toward a malaria vaccine is certainly good news, the bad news is that Lariam (mefloquine) is still the recommended antimalarial for travelers to the many areas where chloroquine-resistant malaria is common - and that even Lariam seems to be losing its punch in some of those areas. We've written about Lariam in the past and so have many of our readers, and, except for the fact that it dramatically reduces the risk of contracting malaria, no one has much that's good to say about it.

The organization Lariam Action USA (phone 510-663-5168, e-mail LariamInfo@aol.com, website www.suggskelly.com/lariam) is an information service for people who have questions about Lariam as well as a support group for Lariam sufferers who contact them. It's worth mentioning that the "suggskelly" in "www.suggskelly.com/lariam" is a law firm, Suggs & Kelly, that has filed suits against Hoffmann-LaRoche, Lariam's manufacturer, on behalf of individuals who report serious long-term side effects from Lariam. However, the site is much more than high-tech ambulance-chasing, and it provides a great deal of useful information on Lariam.

According to the website, since January, 1997, Lariam Action USA has been contacted by nearly 450 people who have reported serious Lariam-related side effects. (Common side effects include nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, and sleep disturbances.) The website includes information about who shouldn't take Lariam (people who have had seizures, depression/mood disorders, liver problems, pregnant women, those taking other antimalarials, and some others) and people who should use it with caution (those who take medication for or have a history of psychiatric illness, heart trouble, blood clotting disorders, high blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, or kidney disease) as well as other information including side effects and alternative treatments.

More information about travelers' risk of malaria and other diseases as well as the recommended malarial prophylaxis for destinations worldwide is available from the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT). Membership in IAMAT is free, and most info is available at no charge or at nominal cost. For more information, contact IAMAT, 417 Center Street, Lewiston, NY 14092 (phone 716-754-4883, website http://www.sentex.net/~iamat/).

Feedback

Dear Editor,
After reading the article on malaria in Roatán in the Oct. '99 issue, I called and faxed the CDC. I was told that only the "rural" areas of both Honduras and Roatán have had malaria cases lately and not to worry about taking medication if I were going to a dive resort such as Anthony's Key. Do you stick by your story?
eddiediver@aol.com

Editor's Comment: It is interesting that the CDC itself seems to be of two minds about Roatán's malaria risk and what travelers should do about it. The CDC representative who spoke with me confirmed malaria cases among tourists whose only recent travel had been to Roatán and voiced the CDC's official position as recommending malaria prophylaxis for any Roatán travelers. Apparently other CDC representatives feel that malaria prophylaxis is not necessary because Roatán malaria cases have been confined to "rural areas." (Of course, all of Roatán is pretty rural, and I'd have a hard time defining where the "urban areas" start.) I'm not qualified to give medical advice, but if I were going to Roatán, I probably would not take chloroquine. However, I would be very cautious about avoiding mosquito bites by applying repellents liberally and avoiding dusk and dawn exposures, when the malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes feed. Evaluating malaria risk and comparing it to the cost of chloroquine in terms of money, hassle, and side effects is obviously an individual decision. Undercurrent's only hope is to provide you with information. You make the choices from there.

For another story of interest see "Kangaroos and LSD: Looking for Leafy Sea Dragons in Australia" also from this month's issue.


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Malaria Awareness: at Risk Even in Honduras

Should I Take Lariam?

Feedback

Malaria Awareness:
at Risk Even in Honduras