Is it really a cause for great concern?

Cases of malaria have been reported in several tourist areas in recent years
Background on the emerging situation is available from the U.S. Center for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol11no03/04-0898.htm.

Generally, this concern is no big deal. Malaria has even been reported within the U.S. in recent years.

Just take the necessary precautions and you'll probably be fine. Chloroquine is the recommended drug for the Dominican Republic.

Antimalarial drugs taken correctly and consistently, along with other measures to prevent mosquito bites, have been shown to be effective in preventing malaria. Therefore, CDC does not discourage travel to malaria-endemic countries.

However, CDC has rescinded recommendations for malaria prophylaxis for Duarte Province because no new cases have been reported from the area in the last 2 months, the epidemiologic investigation by the Ministry of Health of the Dominican Republic did not reveal any new cases, and their surveillance system did not detect any cases of malaria in the province in recent years.

Chloroquine has a long history of use and safety and has been found to be well tolerated by most people, including children. People with an allergy to chloroquine should discuss an alternative antimalarial drug with their health-care provider. To learn more about chloroquine, see this website: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malariadrugs.htm .

Because antimalarial drugs are not 100% protective, other measures to prevent mosquito bites should also be used, such as insect repellents that contain the ingredient DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide). To learn more about preventing mosquito bites and the appropriate use of insect repellents, visit these web pages: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/bugs.htm and http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/mosquitorepellent.htm .

Infection with the type of malaria found in the Dominican Republic, P. falciparum, may rapidly result in a severe, life-threatening illness if not promptly treated.

If you have traveled to the Dominican Republic and you become ill with fever and other flu-like symptoms for up to 1 year after returning from areas with malaria, you should immediately seek professional medical care and inform your health-care provider that you have visited a malaria-risk area.

The Ministry of Health in the Dominican Republic has implemented malaria control measures, including intensified surveillance, prompt case management, and intensive mosquito control activities.

Visit CDC's Travelers' Health website at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/regionalmalaria/caribean.htm for information on malaria risk and prevention in the Dominican Republic.

Information on antimalarial drugs, including dosages and precautions, may be found at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/malariadrugs.htm .

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