Adults with fever , a positive peripheral blood smear , and a positive rapid diagnostic test for Plasmodium falciparum were randomised in both studies to either azithromycin ( AZ ) 1,000 mg plus chloroquine ( CQ ) 600-mg base ( AZCQ 1,000 mg ) once daily for three days or mefloquine hydrochloride ( MQ ) 1,250 mg ( split dose ) .