Malaria is Deadly.
Malaria is the world's leading killer among infectious diseases
in tropical Africa, South East Asia, parts of India, Southern
China, Latin America, Haiti and some Pacific Islands.
It is a parasitic infection acquired when a mosquito injects
the parasite into the blood. After a few weeks to several
months, those who are infected develop flu-like symptoms,
such as high fever, headaches, muscle aches, nausea and abdominal
discomfort. If left untreated, the malaria can progress to
anemia, heart or kidney failure, coma and even death.
 Malaria
kills more than 1.5 million people each year - approximately
one death every 20 seconds. It is firmly rooted in 103 countries,
and more than 10,000 American travelers fall ill to it annually.
A traveler's best defense against this disease is to take
antimalarial drugs and avoid being bitten by mosquitos. They
should remain in well-screened areas from dusk to dawn, sleep
under mosquito netting, wear pants and long sleeved shirts,
and apply mosquito repellent
containing DEET to their clothing and exposed skin.
In the U.S., doctors prescribe Lariam in travelers' clinics
across the country. The drug was debated in medical circles
prior to its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
in 1986 because of its reputation for causing adverse effects
on the central nervous system.Today, Lariam is the most widely
used antimalarial drug in the world.
Protective measures to avoid malaria:
- Use mosquito netting and check for holes in the net often.
- Spray properly screened room with insecticide before evening.
- Wear protective clothing
- Minimise nocturnal exposure
- Sleep in screened areas or use a mosquito
net.
- DEET insect repellents may be applied to exposed skin.
- 30ml of DEET in 250ml water to impregnate cotton garments.
- Electronic buzzers are not effective.
- Use permethrin-containing pesticide for clothing and mosquito
netting 0.2g/m2 of material every 6 months.
- Use pyrethrum-containing sprays and mosquito coils.
- Long sleeved clothing and long trousers should be worn
if out of doors after sunset.
- Refined lemon eucalyptus oil is also repellent on the
skin.
Read more about mosquito
borne diseases
The
Prevention of Yellow Fever
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