These guidelines are intended to assist you as you embark on your tour of Namibia, and to ensure that you have pleasant memories of our beautiful country for the rest of your life.

Malaria in Namibia is mainly found in the Northern areas of the country, although of late it has been reported in the central region and occasionally in the South (see map). Malaria can be a serious and fatal disease without prompt treatment.

Malaria is transmitted to people by the bite of an infective mosquito, which usually bites after dark.

Tourists in Namibia can help reduce the risk of malaria by using personal protection measures and prophylaxis.

PERSONAL PROTECTION MEASURES

During your travels through Namibia, whether it be for a camping or visiting relatives and friends in malarious areas, you need to take personal measures for protection against mosquito bites.

The following measures are effective in reducing the risk of mosquito bites:

* Sleeping under a mosquito bed-net when mosquitos are active at night, especially between 20:00h-06:00h. Nets treated with harmless insecticides will further increase protection. Mosquito bed-nets are available in local shops.

* If possible, avoid outgoing between dawn and dusk, when mosquitos commonly bite. * Wearing long sleeved clothing and trousers. Dark colours attract mosquitos.

* Burning coils and pellets containing the insect repellent pyrethrum.

* Applying mosquito repellents to exposed skin and clothing. Those containing diethyltoluamide (deet) or dimethyl phthalate are best.

* Using insecticide sprays is effective if entry of mosquitos into the room is prevented.

* Sleeping in rooms with windows and doors screened with mosquito netting. Keep windows and doors closed.

Prophylaxis, the use of drugs to prevent malaria should be used togetherwith the personal protection measures already mentioned. The World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommendation for travellers to Namibia and from non-malarious areas within Namibia is Chloroquine and Proguanil.

CHLOROQUINE

Adults (including pregnant women) - 2 tablets weekly (300 mg base), beginning one week before travel, continuing once weekly while in the malarious area and for six weeks after leaving the malarious area.

Children -5 mg/ kg body weight taken at the same intervals as per adults.

Fully breastfed babies - half the recommended dose for children (2.5 mg/ kg).

Partially breastfed babies (less than four hours per day)

- the full recommended dose for children.

PROGUANIL

Adults (Including pregnant women) - tablets daily (200 mg base), beginning one day before travel, continuing daily while In the malarious area and for six weeks after leaving the malarious area.

children -3 mg/kg body weight taken at the same intervals as per adults

Fully breastfed babies - half the recommended dose for children (1.5 mg/kg).

Partially breast-fed babies (less than four feeds per day)

- the full recommended dose for children

Proguanil is to be used in addition to Chloroquine and not as an alternative.

If you have any drug allergies, chronic illness or are taking other drugs or vaccines, it is advisable to consult your doctor before beginning prophylaxis. Prophylaxis may not provide complete protection against malaria, particularly with the spread of Chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria.

If you experience any of the symptoms of malaria, which include: fever, rigours (shivering), headaches, backache, diarrhoea and/or vomiting and malaise, it is extremely important to report to the nearest health facility for proper diagnosis and prompt treatment.

If on your return home you experience any flu-like symptoms you must seek immediate medical attention and inform your doctor, that you have recently visited a malarious area.

It is recommended that pregnant women, very young children, and the very old should carefully consider the urgency and need to travel to areas where there is transmission of P. Falciparum.

If you follow these precautions the risk from malaria will be small, and you should not allow it to spoil the enjoyment of your trip.

On 4 November 1997 the Minister of Health declared the areas of Grootfontein, Otjinene and Gobabis as high-risk Malaria areas.

UPDATED MALARIA DISTRIBUTION MAP

Etosha Fly-In Safaris (Pty) Ltd.

P.O. Box 1830, 447 Fifth Avenue, Tsumeb, Namibia

Tel: 264-67- 22 0574 Fax: 264-67- 22 0832

e-mail: reservations @ etosha.com

Visit our web site: //www.etosha.com

The above information was given by the Ministry of Health and Social Services and was made public first in May 1996.