This disease is contracted from the bite of a specific female mosquito carrying the malarial parasite. Malaria exists in certain areas of the country. Current information for individuals traveling to Honduras advises the use of protective medication to help prevent malaria. The recommended medication is chloroquine (Aralen). It must be noted that taking the medicine does not insure you will not get malaria and that some who have taken it have had ill side effects during their trip.

Malarial symptoms include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Sweating
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Muscle/joint pain

Should you develop any of these symptoms within 12 months (malaria can lie dormant in your body), you are advised to consult a physician immediately and tell the physician your travel history.

Malaria can be effectively treated if you seek health care early in the course of the disease. Delay of therapy can have serious consequences. Persons may recover from the first episode of symptoms and then have relapses after months without symptoms. Relapses occur due to dormant stage parasites that may reactivate.