Feb 10, 2014, 7:09 am
Last edit by: JDiver
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Malaria is a preventable, life-threatening disease transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito when she is taking her blood meal and has Plasmodium parasites in her gut from previously biting an infected blood source. Most Anopheles are night-biters, but at least one species bites during cloudy days.
There are five types of malaria that affect humans: Plasmodium falciparum (which is responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths), P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. P. vivax and P. ovale can have recurring bouts.
Symptoms can vary from quite mild to complications such as cerebral malaria; about 1 million deaths per year occur globally from malaria. Some medications are used prophilactically / preventively, as well as to treat malaria, and it seems after time the Plasmodium parasite is able to develop resistance. The locations where certain mosquitoes inhabit and which form of malaria, plus resistances, can be researched prior to travel.
Best practices to prevent malaria include keeping limbs, etc. covered during mosquito-biting hours; sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets; using approved mosquito repellents (Picaridin or DEET topically and permethrin / Permanone, a persistent repellent applied to the surface of clothing, which persists through several washings).
* much less your health provider professionals or physicians
Some trustworthy resources include:
Link to some malaria basics from the Government of Canada
Link to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pages on malaria (treatment, prevention, etc.)
Link to US CDC malaria information for travelers
Link to IAMAT PDF extensive World Malaria risk Chart.
Link to Public Health England pages on malaria
Link to US CDC information on malaria medications / prophylaxis
Malaria is a preventable, life-threatening disease transmitted by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito when she is taking her blood meal and has Plasmodium parasites in her gut from previously biting an infected blood source. Most Anopheles are night-biters, but at least one species bites during cloudy days.
There are five types of malaria that affect humans: Plasmodium falciparum (which is responsible for the vast majority of malaria deaths), P. vivax, P. ovale, P. malariae and P. knowlesi. P. vivax and P. ovale can have recurring bouts.
Symptoms can vary from quite mild to complications such as cerebral malaria; about 1 million deaths per year occur globally from malaria. Some medications are used prophilactically / preventively, as well as to treat malaria, and it seems after time the Plasmodium parasite is able to develop resistance. The locations where certain mosquitoes inhabit and which form of malaria, plus resistances, can be researched prior to travel.
Best practices to prevent malaria include keeping limbs, etc. covered during mosquito-biting hours; sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets; using approved mosquito repellents (Picaridin or DEET topically and permethrin / Permanone, a persistent repellent applied to the surface of clothing, which persists through several washings).
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FlyerTalk is founded on the principles of support, empowerment, information and entertainment. Use good judgment when considering how to use information derived from the forums and consult representatives from the appropriate programs before doing anything that might affect your travel or put your miles and points at risk. Remember that what's right for one person may not be right for you.
FlyerTalk is not liable for any loss or damage caused by information obtained through our forums.
NEVER rely on information or opinions posted on FlyerTalk to replace the information that you receive from your frequent traveler programs*. While FlyerTalk is full of great information, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information provided on the boards.
FlyerTalk is founded on the principles of support, empowerment, information and entertainment. Use good judgment when considering how to use information derived from the forums and consult representatives from the appropriate programs before doing anything that might affect your travel or put your miles and points at risk. Remember that what's right for one person may not be right for you.
FlyerTalk is not liable for any loss or damage caused by information obtained through our forums.
Some trustworthy resources include:
Link to some malaria basics from the Government of Canada
Link to US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pages on malaria (treatment, prevention, etc.)
Link to US CDC malaria information for travelers
Link to IAMAT PDF extensive World Malaria risk Chart.
Link to Public Health England pages on malaria
Link to US CDC information on malaria medications / prophylaxis
Malaria meds, prevention, etc. (master thread)
Jun 25, 2014, 2:13 pm
#136
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Jun 27, 2014, 1:53 pm
#139
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 14,352
Don't want to get malaria? Eat a dog!
"Two Nigerian men and a South African woman appeared in the Klerksdorp Magistrate's Court for allegedly beheading a dog while it was alive and eating its meat, the Stilfontein SPCA in the North West said on Thursday. [The SPCA] said the Nigerian men believed that dog meat could prevent diseases like malaria."
Source
Johan
Source
Johan
Jul 3, 2014, 2:46 am
#140
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 529
Mefloquine (or mefloquine hydrochloride) trades as Larium and, in a very small number of cases, can lead to psychological side-effects. For this reason, people who choose to take mefloquin are usually required to start taking the medication 4 weeks before their trip, so if any side effects become apparent they can stop taking the drug and change to something else.
Jul 3, 2014, 5:15 am
#141
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Programs: Qatar Plat
Posts: 235
FYI, bring your own mosquito net and TREAT it with the insecticide when you get there - they are easily purchased online.
Most important; Put together an emergency travel kit - perhaps with help from a travel clinic - include emergency course of antibiotics, anti-diarrhea, emergency malaria treatment, painkillers, even an epipen/epinephrine autoinjector) - when in the bush all you can depend on is your own preparedness.
IMO, be more worried about avoiding bad water/food poisoning.
Last edited by Canuck2012; Jul 3, 2014 at 5:31 am
Jul 3, 2014, 8:55 am
#143
Join Date: May 2008
Location: North of YYZ
Programs: Aegean Flying Blue
Posts: 176
Thanks Canuck2012. I know Doxy has next to no side-effects.
We will only be in Kruger for 3 days and another 3 in Victoria Falls. We will be staying in luxury lodges/hotels where I believe mosquito nets will be provided.
I will use the DEET.
We will only be in Kruger for 3 days and another 3 in Victoria Falls. We will be staying in luxury lodges/hotels where I believe mosquito nets will be provided.
I will use the DEET.
Jul 3, 2014, 11:37 am
#144
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Finland
Programs: Almost anything with six to twelve steps...
Posts: 1,033
Cheers,
J.
May 9, 2017, 1:13 pm
#145
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: YYC
Programs: Hilton Diamond, Fairmont Plat, IHG Spire, SPG Gold, WS Gold, Hertz PC, National E Elite,
Posts: 2,768
Wanted to bump this thread. We will be in Tanzania for 2 weeks (Selous and Zanzibar) and our travel clinic has recommended Malarone (Atovaquone/Proguanil) for the 2 weeks we are there plus 7 days after. We are told the side effects are limited. Does anyone have any experience with Malarone?
I kind of laugh, as I think to my backpacker student days where I traveled around Africa without my proper shots or any malaria pills and slept on dirty hostel beds with no nets. When you are 20 I guess you think you are invincible.
I kind of laugh, as I think to my backpacker student days where I traveled around Africa without my proper shots or any malaria pills and slept on dirty hostel beds with no nets. When you are 20 I guess you think you are invincible.
May 9, 2017, 4:10 pm
#146
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Second star to the right and straight on 'till morning
Programs: SkyMiles
Posts: 175
Mr. east_of_the_sun and I took Malarone per the advice of our travel clinic on 6 previous trips to Africa ( South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania/Zanzibar).
We will be taking Malarone , again, when we travel to Tanzania in about a month.
My husband has never reported any side-effects from the med.
I occasionally have experienced some vivid, but not scary, dreams while taking Malarone.
Neither of us has taken any other types of anti-malaria meds; so we have nothing to compare.
We will be taking Malarone , again, when we travel to Tanzania in about a month.
My husband has never reported any side-effects from the med.
I occasionally have experienced some vivid, but not scary, dreams while taking Malarone.
Neither of us has taken any other types of anti-malaria meds; so we have nothing to compare.
May 10, 2017, 7:19 pm
#147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 17,423
I've taken Malarone several times for southern African parks. It's not a big deal; biggest problem is remembering to take the meds after you get home. The first time I did have some semi-vivid dreams (no big deal), but lately I've had no reaction at all.
Just make sure you actually need the meds, though. I always error on the side of safety, but do your own research; USA travel clinics don't really know what the "situation on the ground" is. Of course, locals sometimes dismiss the risk too, partly because locals can build up immunity. You can read some recent articles about the increase in malaria cases in the USA from travelers (mostly friends and family travel) returning from affected areas.
Just make sure you actually need the meds, though. I always error on the side of safety, but do your own research; USA travel clinics don't really know what the "situation on the ground" is. Of course, locals sometimes dismiss the risk too, partly because locals can build up immunity. You can read some recent articles about the increase in malaria cases in the USA from travelers (mostly friends and family travel) returning from affected areas.
May 11, 2017, 9:11 am
#148
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: On the road, 24/7/365
Posts: 3,467
I spent a few years on Lariam without ill effect. I tried Malarone in some destinations when it came along, but it wasn't recommended for anything other than short stays; again, I didn't have any bad reactions. If that's the recommended drug for your destination, I would be inclined to choose that. I did get some medical "indication" (not scientifically-supported advice from a doctor) that Malarone wasn't ideal for strict vegetarians: something about being fat soluble. But I am not a doctor!
Lately, my destinations have guided me to Doxycycline because of disease resistance.
I have had malaria, and I would advise against skipping the prophylaxis.
Lately, my destinations have guided me to Doxycycline because of disease resistance.
I have had malaria, and I would advise against skipping the prophylaxis.
Dec 14, 2017, 10:50 am
#149
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,077
Per travelcomments.com Blog
https://umhambi.blogspot.com/2017/12...-in-south.html
South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has released a new updated advisory on the Malaria risk in South Africa 2017. According to the NICD, the seasonal risk to catch Malaria in Malaria-infected regions in South Africa usually peaks between September and May. Due to more mosquito breeding in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern KwaZulu Natal and other high risk areas in in the country, the seasonal risk has now been significantly extended. This increased breeding activity is most likely related to climate change and heavier rainfall.
For some reason, I cannot view the graphic on my computer right now (nor post it to FT).
https://umhambi.blogspot.com/2017/12...-in-south.html
South Africa's National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) has released a new updated advisory on the Malaria risk in South Africa 2017. According to the NICD, the seasonal risk to catch Malaria in Malaria-infected regions in South Africa usually peaks between September and May. Due to more mosquito breeding in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern KwaZulu Natal and other high risk areas in in the country, the seasonal risk has now been significantly extended. This increased breeding activity is most likely related to climate change and heavier rainfall.
For some reason, I cannot view the graphic on my computer right now (nor post it to FT).
Dec 25, 2017, 5:05 pm
#150
Join Date: Dec 2008
Programs: DL Plat, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 325
