Title – The holiday bug with a lethal stingSource – Independent
Date – 7th July 2009
I have written before about Malaria in this blog and I don’t really want to retrace those words at this point. During our workshop we go on and on about taking a co-ordinated approach to protecting against malaria and in practice the steps are relatively simple; add to these a few tricks and tips we have learnt along the way and the protection becomes even more complete. Even though it is never going to be 100% full proof, it seems logical to me that the closer you get to 100% the better. Too many travellers seem to take the bizarre attitude, that if the pills are not 100% proof why take them at all…
Our approach is fourfold:
1. Planning
2. Prophylactic drugs & Vaccinations
3. Bite prevention
4. Awareness & Diagnosis
The good thing about this approach is that malaria is just one of many diseases spread by mosquitoes and this simple strategy goes a significant way to assisting with protection against these as well. Bite prevention adds significant protection from diseases including:
· Dengue Fever
· Yellow Fever
· Encephalitis
· Rift Valley Fever
The experience of people who have contracted malaria should be enough to get anyone thinking. The 2000 people diagnosed with malaria every year in the UK, not to mention the 10 – 12 fatalities a year, should be enough to make anyone take those measures required in order to protect themselves.
In addition to the fact that getting malaria is a devastating and life threatening experience, the added pressure put on local services & resources when you require treatment in-country because you have failed to take the appropriate prevention measures is very unfair; especially when many countries can’t even look after their own population. The hospital bed you as a foreigner will undoubtedly be given is a bed which a local person will be turned away from.
I always ask people how many people in Sub-Saharan Africa would refuse a mosquito net or prophylactic drugs if they were offered them; the answer is obviously none. When you leave your mosquito net at home or ignore the doctor’s advice, you do rather rub salt in their considerable wounds.
At
Beyond The Blue (Safe Gap Year) our Gap Year and Independent Travel Safety & Awareness Workshop (GYITSA) considers issues of Travel Health, alongside sessions on Travel Safety, Ethical and Responsible Travel, Travel Equipment, Travel Insurance, Destination Advice, Transport Options, Documentation, Travel Money and Insurance and more.Date – 7th July 2009
I have written before about Malaria in this blog and I don’t really want to retrace those words at this point. During our workshop we go on and on about taking a co-ordinated approach to protecting against malaria and in practice the steps are relatively simple; add to these a few tricks and tips we have learnt along the way and the protection becomes even more complete. Even though it is never going to be 100% full proof, it seems logical to me that the closer you get to 100% the better. Too many travellers seem to take the bizarre attitude, that if the pills are not 100% proof why take them at all…
Our approach is fourfold:
1. Planning
2. Prophylactic drugs & Vaccinations
3. Bite prevention
4. Awareness & Diagnosis
The good thing about this approach is that malaria is just one of many diseases spread by mosquitoes and this simple strategy goes a significant way to assisting with protection against these as well. Bite prevention adds significant protection from diseases including:
· Dengue Fever
· Yellow Fever
· Encephalitis
· Rift Valley Fever
The experience of people who have contracted malaria should be enough to get anyone thinking. The 2000 people diagnosed with malaria every year in the UK, not to mention the 10 – 12 fatalities a year, should be enough to make anyone take those measures required in order to protect themselves.
In addition to the fact that getting malaria is a devastating and life threatening experience, the added pressure put on local services & resources when you require treatment in-country because you have failed to take the appropriate prevention measures is very unfair; especially when many countries can’t even look after their own population. The hospital bed you as a foreigner will undoubtedly be given is a bed which a local person will be turned away from.
I always ask people how many people in Sub-Saharan Africa would refuse a mosquito net or prophylactic drugs if they were offered them; the answer is obviously none. When you leave your mosquito net at home or ignore the doctor’s advice, you do rather rub salt in their considerable wounds.
At
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