malaria in Port Vila?

i see Lonely Planet says malaria is "quite rare" in Vanuatu. But I am having about 6 days in port Vila, probably staying near the lagoon jus south of city centre. Realistically, do I need malaria pills for this or do I need to be concerned?? I won't be going to any islands or anywhere else. I might explore the island I'm on, but won't be sleeping in jungles or anything. Will it do to just buy some aeroguard or do I need to sort out anti-malaria pills as soon as I get there?

thanks for responses, J,

I would not bother with pills in your case.
You would have to be VERY unlucky to catch malaria on that short trip to Vila, and in that unlikely case you can still treat it once symptoms appear.

I am all for advocating malaria pills for places with a significant risk like New Guinea or the Solomons, but a short trip to Vila is just not the same.

I have never read of a malaria outbreak on Efate but it appears sometimes on the outer islands. The local health service publishes alerts in the Monday Post and the only mosquito carried disease they have recently noted around Vila is dengue fever which shows up occasionally. There is no vaccine for that. You just need Aerogard a few times every day during summer.

I recommend the roll on because it is easy to carry.

Vanuatu has regular malaria mosquito eradication programs on the main islands.

Thanks all, i feel better now. am here now and don't have it so far! humid and raining today.

JTT.

FYI Spent a month around Van in Jan this year. Last 10 day were in the Banks and Epi Both of us were on Doxy but ended up in hospital for 4 days with malaria. P Vivax.... NOT Nice at all!! As an experieced traveler its easy to get complacent - prevention is better and easier and nicer thant the cure if u get walloped!