Mosquito net
 

The girlfriend keeps banging on about this.

Any of you guys bother with a mosquito net around Argentina, Bolivia, Peru(cuso), and Chile?

Since they're small I've said she can bring it anyway to put her mind at ease, better to have it and not need rather than the other way around. Though outside of tropical areas, I've not read a single ride report or otherwise that mentions bringing/using one.

What's your experience?

Yellow fever, Dengue Fever and Malaria are in some or all of C and S America so if you are going to be camping or spending a lot of time in rural areas, it would be sensible to take modest precautions against mozzies.
As she points out, a net doesn't take up much space, nor does repellant.

Well yeah I said it doesn't take up much space. We'll have plenty of 50% DEET too.

Obviously the tent already has a build in net, this is more for hotels and guest houses.

I was more curious then anything as I'd not heard of people using in that region.

Sea to Summit do a nice black lightweight double one though it's around £25. Gilert do a heavier white one, for £8, but I've never been impressed with Gilert stuff.

I travel with one
 

When traveling I take a mosquito net and plenty of string to hang it. A net is small and worth its weight on gold when you are trying to sleep and one of those pesky buggers in your sleeping space. Yeah, its might take up the space of a small grapefruit after you have used it once, but its very light.

Ok, fun facts on risk...

Dengue is present in all of the countries on you route. Very rare in Chile.
Yellow fever and malaria are only reported in eastern Peru and Bolivia (basically the Amazon portions of these countries.) Search for "malaria maps" and you see the hot zones.

PREVENTION

Malaria is not fun to get. Once you are infected, you are for life. I take anti-malaria tablet when I travel with any chance of exposure. There are roughly three options:

1. cheap (but makes the skin more light sensitive, easier to sun burn)
2. a little more expensive and take it once a week (can make you feel edgy and increases vivid dream...)
3. most expensive, taken daily, none of the above issues.

There are also factors like, number of days before and after that the pills need to be taken.

From what I have read, Brazil no longer asks for proof of yellow fever inoculation. I got a shot in 2008.

Dengue, nothing you can take to prevent it, just Deet, mosquito netting and long sleeves. It really sucks if you get it. I friend got it in the Caribbean and was laid up for days...

Use 100% Deet products. Deet has been around for decades and is very safe. Of course you can search the Internet and find someone who will tell you different, including that using the Internet causes brain rot. Which is completely true. I bought a few tiny bottles of Ben's 100% Deet. Good stuff. Deet stops working when you sweat, so apply early and often, like sun screen.

Largely a good post. However:

Of the four common form of malaria, two can have a liver stage that can reactivate after months or years if not properly treated (treatment for the liver stage is available); underscores the importance of getting proper evaluation and treatment if you get sick as well as preventative advice before you go.

There are many insect borne diseases a net will protect against besides malaria; make sure the net is insecticide treated and is re-treated at regular intervals.

Problems with the weekly antimalarial, mefloquine, are usually seen in treatment doses rather than the protective (prophylactic) weekly dose; good drug if properly used and appropriately prescribed. Only some people taking doxcycycline will get the light sensitivity, by no means all. It is important to match your area of travel with the right drug - suggest a consult with a good travel clinic. I agree that malarone is a very good drug with few side effects.

Don't mess with malaria; it is not 'part of the adventure' and can kill you quickly.

I would add don't skimp on vaccines; an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

And don't forget to wash your hands and make everyone else wash their hands as well!

Thanks for all the info all I was asking was how common it was to take mosquito nets to the places I mentioned. :)

I've had all the recommended vaccinations, only needed yellow fever in addition for this trip as I had the others before going to Africa earlier in the year.

I'm not visiting any malaria hot spots, but will take medication with me (I haven't yet decided which) as I will be on the fringes in Iguazu and parts of Peru/Bolivia.

Reports of dengue fever have been on the increase in that region. There's even been multiple deaths. Of course mosquitos carrying the disease are most active during the daytime. Repellant and covering up is only thing that can be done.

I've only got 50% DEET at the moment used in Africa to good effect. I always thought 100% was mainly used for horses. I'll pick some up.

Clothes will also be washed in Permethrin since DEET will destroy my technical gear. Works well against ticks and other nasty little things.

Got a mozzie net that we like now, so jobs a good one hopefully. Will practice stringing it up at home.

Cheers.

I don't think it's necessary unless you're going to be in the amazon for a while. I mean there's practically no chance of catching it in Argentina or Chile and no chance in highland Bolivia or Peru. I made a foray into the Amazon for a few weeks and didn't figure it worth taking the meds. I've never really taken them. Suppose it's a personal decision.

I usually carry a net. Sooner or later I find myself using it--someone's grass hut, a porous guesthouse, an unscreened porch. In most areas of S. America I'm more concerned about dengue (and scorpions, ants, cockroaches....) than malaria, but unfortunate experience has me determined never to get malaria again.

100% DEET is no more effective than 50% DEET, which in turn is no more effective than 30% DEET. Do your own research.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

I could have done with one last night here in the UK. Was sleeping and could feel something on me. Woke up to a huge spider crawling on my neck. Not fun. Ended up dreaming of arachnids all night.

i took a mosquito net with me, used it only once all the way up from chile to colombia - where i lost it (came off the bike as i didn't really care when attaching it)

i'd rather worry about mosquitos and stuff in canada. a net is nice in combination with a hammock, definitely recommend it if you try to do that (e.g. in the amazon).

for malaria i am taking doxy which is extremely cheap and easy to get in colombia (a packet of 10 tablets cost me 2000 COP which is less than USD 1). it made me more sensible to sun but this is nothing to worry about (i am very sensitive and easily sunburnt even without doxy). considering the low cost it was a no-brainer for me to take the treatment (less than USD 3 for a whole month of treatment).

can't agree with 100% DEET - you don't need it. i used no-bite with 50+% DEET and it didn't help me. currently using "nopikex" which you can get locally (is a basically a soap) and it works way better for me. i got eaten last time i was in colombia when i used no-bite. try to find something that works for you, go through different products.

as for the rest - avoid bites the best you can (i know this is easy to say but harder to achieve. those vampires eat me alive). there's other stuff than malaria and dengue to worry about. one of the worst you can get is the chikungunya virus (e.g. cali, colombia). this can get you off your bike for weeks and joint paints can last up to a full year. don't be to lazy to put on repellent or worst case longsleeves.

hope it helps a bit.