QUESTIONI was recently diagnosed with Malaria still waiting to find out what strand, but either got it in Uganda or Rwanda. I have recently came back to the states and have been bit by mosquito. I have already started to take some medication for it, but I am concerned about spreading the virus to others in the states including my family. Is it possible that if I still have the infection to … [Read more...]
Do I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria?
QUESTIONDo I need malaria tablets to live in Nigeria? I was born and bred in the UK and want to go back to live in Nigeria for about 2 years, do I need malaria tablets?ANSWERIt is not usually recommended to take malaria tablets for long periods of time (i.e. more than a few months). People living for extended periods in areas with malaria should focus on other methods of prevention, … [Read more...]
Repeated Malaria Cases, New Guinea
QUESTIONHello, I live in Papua New Guinea. Myself, my wife and my 2 kids (both under 4 years old), get diagnosed with malaria approximately 3-4 times a year, usually vivax or falciparum. Our GP uses a prick of blood and examines under a microscope. Is it that easy/obvious to diagnose under this method and is it common to get this many attacks in a year? I also fear the affects of taking … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
QUESTIONWhat are the ways in which you can prevent yourself from being infected with malaria?ANSWERMalaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures (since malaria is transmitted by infected mosquitoes) and chemoprophylaxis (medication to prevent the establishment of malaria in your body, if you do get bitten). Although very efficacious, none of the … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
QUESTIONwhat is the prevention of malaria?ANSWERThere are many ways in which to prevent malaria. I'll break them down into three categories: 1) medical prevention, 2) protection from getting mosquito bites and 3) vector control.1) Medical preventionMalaria can be prevented using certain medications. Taking drugs to prevent a disease is known as "chemoprophylaxis", and so these … [Read more...]
Repellent for Malaria Mosquitos
QUESTIONMy daughter is leaving for Africa for 5 weeks on a mission trip. Is there a repellent that can be used to ward off these infected mosquitos? Also what can she do to stay safe and protected?ANSWERThere is no way of warding off only those mosquitoes that are infected with malaria. However, insect repellents which contain DEET (10% or higher) are the most effective against the … [Read more...]
Malaria Symptoms, Cures, and Prevention
QUESTIONWhat is malaria cure, prevention, symptom and course?ANSWERI am not sure what you mean by "course" - however, links to information on malaria treatment, prevention and symptoms can be found on the main page of our website. For your convenience, I have provided them here:Information on malaria prevention Information on malaria symptoms and causesAs for malaria … [Read more...]
Recurring Malaria Long Term Effects
QUESTION:Hi, my husband is an expat working in Mozambique for the past 5 years. He has been diagnosed with malaria 9 times, what are the long term effects of this and is he just unlucky or do others also get infected often? thanks.ANSWER:If the proper precautions are not taken, then it is very easy to get infected with malaria multiple times; I have one Ugandan colleague who claims he … [Read more...]
Researchers Discover Insect Repellent Thousands of Times More Effective than DEET
Imagine an insect repellent that not only is thousands of times more effective than DEET – the active ingredient in most commercial mosquito repellents – but also works against all types of insects, including flies, moths and ants.That possibility has been created by the discovery of a new class of insect repellent made in the laboratory of Vanderbilt Professor of Biological Sciences and … [Read more...]
Malaria Prevention
Malaria prevention consists of a combination of mosquito avoidance measures and chemoprophylaxis. Although very efficacious, none of the recommended interventions are 100% effective.Mosquito Avoidance MeasuresBecause of the nocturnal feeding habits of Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk and dawn. Contact with mosquitoes can be reduced by … [Read more...]