Those are the facts. When it comes to prevention, however, things aren't nearly as clear-cut.

Most doctors believe that the best form of prevention is to mix common-sense precaution (bug repellent; long-sleeve shirts; mosquito nets) with a regimen of prophylactic medication. There are three common malaria medications:

• Mefloquine
• Chloroquine phosphate
• Doxycycline

Each of these three drugs has potentially serious side-effects. Mefloquine can cause mild psychotic side-effects. In most people, these are no more severe than "agitation" that's been compared to the effect of a double-tall at Starbucks. Vivid dreams are also a common reaction. Some people, however, report much more severe reactions, often progressive in nature. Chloroquine can cause dizziness, hair thinning, and itching. Doxycycline causes sun hypersensitivity.

Not suprisingly, there is a vocal anti-Mefloquine crowd on the Net. If you believe some of what you read online, you'd leave home armed with nothing more than gin enemas and a fly swatter. I would urge extreme caution when listening to those unprofessional online rantings. Keep in mind the millions of infections that have been prevented by medication compared to isolated reactions of a few travelers.