Malaria in Indonesia

There are some areas in Indonesia that are at risk of malaria. Some are malaria free whereas others still have the risk of the disease so depending on the area you plan to visit; you may need to take malaria tablets. The regions that usually have a malaria risk are the rural forested regions and the majority of infections occur when the mosquitoes are most active- at night.

The major cities do not have a malaria risk and neither does Jakarta, Bali or the Island of Java.  However, the hills in the middle of Java do have some malaria risk. You will need to take malaria tablets if you are visiting Sumatra, Kalimantan, Nusa Tenggara Barat or Sulawesi or if you are in any of eastern Indonesia. It is important to note that malaria was on the increase in the central Java province and in Yogyakarta province so you may need to take malaria tablets if entering these areas. Your doctor will see if this is appropriate for your travels.

The malaria tablet Chloroquine will not work in Indonesia as the parasites are resistant to this form of anti-malarial. Therefore, you will need to take either Mefloquine, Malarone or Doxycycline. Your doctor will advise on the best course of anti-malarials for your journey. It is important that the correct malaria tablets are used and you finish the entire course of tablets to ensure protection. However, protection is not 100% guaranteed and you should also use insect prevention measures such as mosquito nets, sleeping in air-conditioned rooms and using insecticides. Stay indoors at dusk and wear long sleeved clothing to avoid being bitten.

---

« Malaria in India Malaria in Jamaica »