NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40641
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Over time I have seen many discussions on health protection when going on safari in Africa with malaria being a "hot" topic.
Most Western governments recommend travellors seek specific medical advice for the specific regions where they intend to travel and get the appropriate innoculations and safeguards. For example the taking of various preventative medicines against malaria during and after one's visit.
During the internet discussions sometimes persons have suggested that there is no need to take advance precautions against malaria. They argue rightfully that some malaria medicines affect some people with serious side effects. Though there are substitute pills that can be taken instead of Larium. They also argue the local population lives there and takes nothing in advance. There also is often true.
Over the years I have sponsored various children in Zimbabwe through an international scheme. I was sad to receive a letter this week that the current child has just died from malaria.
Malaria is the biggest killer in Africa. Of course it kills the young, old and otherwise sick more so than healthy adults. But I do not know of one African or ex-pat whom I met that has not contracted the disease and has had bouts of illness.
Therefore isn't it silly not to take safeguards when one goes there merely to take a holiday for a relatively short period? I certainly always ere on the side of caution when near risky areas.
So if one does go take the experts advice and visit a good tropical diseases practioner or travel medical clinic.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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AspenHill
Sponsor
Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
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John,
Sorry to hear about your loss. That is very sad. 
One thing people forget or are not told is that the medications issued for Malaria do not prevent it. You can still get Malaria even if you take the pills. What they do is lessen the effect of the Malaria organism. In very high doses, these same meds are used to treat Malaria infections.
It is more or less a helpful and hopeful prevention, well worth taking rather than not.
There is no escape from Malaria unless the vector is eradicated and that has proven to be impossible in Africa and Central/South America.
Interestingly, at one time, even in the cold climate I live in Malaria was an epidemic.
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~Ann
Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.
Aspen Hill Adventures
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NitroX
.700 member
Reged: 25/12/02
Posts: 40641
Loc: Barossa Valley, South Australi...
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Ann
This sponsor child was only about two so I really didn't have any sort of close connection with him. In fact I think the charity assigned this boy because he was too young to write and in reflection of my past correspondence efforts ie next to nil.
But I thought it was worth posting as it again shows malaria is something worth paying some attention to and taking some precautions.
I imagine Michigan in summer does have considerable numbers of insects as it is so wet. Without human carriers the mosquito species capable of passing on malaria do not have a source of the disease. There was a couple of cases of malaira being passed on in Northern Queensland a few years ago as someone obviously passed on infected blood.
We have another mosquito / blood disease in Australia called Ross River virus which causes muscle and joint inflammation (I believe). Now Ross River is to the East of Alice Springs in the middle of the continent and the middle of a desert. Hardly the place one would expect a moaquito borne disease to originate from.
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John aka NitroX
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Govt get out of our lives NOW!
"I love the smell of cordite in the morning."
"A Sharp spear needs no polish"
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AspenHill
Sponsor
Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
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Still John, the loss is sad.
Malaria is a parasite and not a virus. There are Trypanosomes still to be found here but they do not infect humans. They can be found in the blood streams of reptiles and amphibians though they are a different species of the Tr species that causes Malaria in humans. So the possibility of these species transforming to infect people are something to think about.
Yes, we have BILLIONS of mosquitoes. Sevreal species which breed at different times of the year. Many hibernate through the winter months to nail us as soon as a warm day hits in the spring.
Immigrants have brought West Nile Virus to this country. It kills the elderly and birds. It is going to be a serious problem each and every year. Imports from other countries have brought numerous diseases here not only to people but our plants and animals. Now we have a vicious killer of our ash trees here from a beetle originating in China. Canada has mad cow disease now.
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~Ann
Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.
Aspen Hill Adventures
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gryphon
.450 member
Reged: 01/01/03
Posts: 5487
Loc: Sambar ground/Victoria/Austral...
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And here in Aussie Anne we have just had a big dose of a readily infected fever called Finals Football in all states and codes too.
And tonight Australia takes on the Argies in the world cup rugby union opener.
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Get off the chair away from the desk and get out in the bush and enjoy life.
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AspenHill
Sponsor
Reged: 08/01/03
Posts: 1528
Loc: Vermont, USA
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Gryph,
The men here have strange diseases like that too. They are unfortunately, incurable. 
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~Ann
Everyday spent outdoors is the best day of my life.
Aspen Hill Adventures
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mikeh416Rigby
.450 member
Reged: 24/02/03
Posts: 6051
Loc: The beautiful Oley Valley, PA....
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I played Rugby here in the U.S. for a number of years. That explains some of my "dain bramage".  Last yearo while on Safari in RSA, my outfitter, P.H., and I took a day off and went to see the All Blacks play the Springboks. The Springboks gave them a serious thumping.
As far as malaria, I caught a dose while serving in Viet Nam, and believe me, it's nothing to mess with. And yes, I took my pills every week, but still caught it. Fortunately, the malaria there wasn't the most serious form. But it still made me awful sick.
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