Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I am aware of the fact that the US army has ceased using Lariam. I understand there may be two reasons for that. The first is that many of its soldiers may not be operating in areas where there is a risk of contracting malaria. My understanding is that the vast majority of armies which are deployed in sub-Saharan Africa in particular and in areas where the risk of contracting malaria from mosquito bites is very high continue to use Lariam mainly because it is at this point the drug that is most suitable for long-term use. One of the other drugs I mentioned has very severe side effects which come into play very strongly in sub-Saharan Africa. Another drug is only suitable and approved for continuous use of up to 28 days which, in the case of the vast majority of personnel on our missions, is far shorter than the four or six months stint for which people are deployed. When one goes through all the evidence it transpires that in terms of meeting all the requirements that Lariam is the only suitable drug available at this stage for our personnel.

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