Preventative Measures & Protection: None of the medications above are 100% effective so it is also advised that you do take the following additional measures: • Bring along mosquito repellent such as DEET cream or spray which can be rubbed on your arms and legs. This should be done just before dusk or if you are venturing into the bush during the day. The other item is to use insect spray which is locally available such as Bop or Baygon. When spraying do so behind cupboards, under beds and in other shaded areas. •  Use bed netting where the accommodation does not have an insect screen on their widows. This is particularly necessary when staying in basic lodgings,  further up-country or at camps by the River Gambia. •  There are special mosquito coils called Moon Tiger available in local shops. These are ideal to take along when eating in open-air restaurants as you would place them under the table and it keeps many bugs at bay. Do not light coils in any room as they can be a fire hazard. • Because mosquitoes are active at night always close your main door at sunset to stop them entering your sleeping area. • Sleep using a fan. Because the insects are very light in weight they cannot get a foothold because of the constant air-flow. • For people permanently resident in the country here are a list of tropical Plants that repel mosquitoes: Citronella, Basil (Amiaceae), L. cheraliera. Other Tips: 1) Remove all standing water in garden 2) Cut grassy areas short 3) Remove dead & decaying leaves Inside Knowledge: The following information is about the geographic local prevalence as well as the time of the year when the mosquito is most numerous. Remember, it is not the humble mosquito that suffers from malaria, it is humans. The insect merely takes the parasite from one person to another. The following is just a rough guide. •The insects (known locally as 'yorr') are most numerous during the rainy season which is from mid-June to mid-October. •The female of the species feeds on plant sap and human blood, when pregnant, so you will find plenty in lush tropical gardens as well as by mangrove creeks and woodland. •As has been mentioned they are active at night time and most active just before dawn and sunrise. Though you can still be bitten in the daytime especially in shaded, green areas of foliage. This all depends on which one of the 16 mosquito species are around of which 8 are known to be carriers of the parasite. One of which is known as Anopheles Gambiae! Malaria Treatment: Should you find yourself suspecting you might have contracted the disease then see your tour representative and ask to see a doctor immediately. If you are an independent traveller try and see a medical practitioner as soon as possible. Failing this then you should get tested at either the Jobot Laboratories on Kairaba Avenue (open till 9pm)  or Lamtoro Medical Centre at Kololi. You can find their contact details under clinics & pharmacies. If they are closed then you have to decide for yourself whether to take curative treatment which is usually available at many of the Kombo's pharmacies. Based on the findings of a workshop on the anti-malaria treatment policy in Ethiopia, held in May 2004 in Addis Ababa, the WHO has suggested the need to change to the use of the ACT drug, artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria.

Note carefully: Always get the advice of your doctor before deciding to take or not to take any medications or precautions.