Always consult a travel health professional such as a tropical medicine clinic or travel medicine specialist before traveling to sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, or tropical South and Central America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Traveler's Health website provides advise for the traveler and the latest information about malaria-risk countries.
Find out what prescriptions you need 4 to 6 weeks before travel. Drugs to prevent malaria, called antimalarials, are available only by prescription. Follow instructions for taking antimalarials carefully, without missing doses; taking them incorrectly can lead to decreased protection or to increased side effects.