Smart Hints and Tips for Travelling to Malaria Hot Spots

What is Malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease that can be fatal if left unattended. People who get the mosquito-borne disease are usually very sick with high fevers and flu-like illness. Four kinds of parasites infect humans: P. vivax, Plasmodium falciparum, P. ovale, and P. malariae.

Cerebral Malaria is an extremely serious infectious disease. It can be spread from one person to the next. Apply precautionary measure wherever possible. Medication can help prevent serious infection. The effectiveness of repellents and risk ratio will be the difference between getting sick or not. Here are the Top tips when planning a trip to Botswana.

Keep an eye out for any medical conditions. Symptoms of malaria include chills, headaches, high fever, abdominal pain, and upset stomach. Should you feel unwell a couple of weeks after travelling from a high-risk country, don't leave it! Seek prompt treatment from the many healthcare providers well-versed in tropical diseases.

Where is Malaria Prevalent?

It thrives in warm tropical and subtropical climates. When travelling to endemic countries, you will need antimalarial medications. These destinations include Central America, parts of South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, West Africa, and Latin America (Central and South America). Other hot spots include Southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea, and the Western Pacific Islands.

Why Is It a Risk to Me and My loved Ones When Travelling?

Malaria has caused millions of deaths. You need to ensure you are protected against risk of infection. If you do get infected, you will need medical attention and treatment. Severe infection can lead to death, and it exposes unborn children to medical risks in pregnant women.

The prevention of malaria infection is important, because tourists often become very ill from contracting the disease. The reason is that their bodies have often not built up immunity against these parasites. Does your travel history only include non-Malarial locations? In that case, your immunity won't have built up a resilience against it.

Here's Why Malaria Is One of the Most Hazardous Diseases on Earth

In African countries, around 600,000 Malarial-related deaths occur on the continent. These are mostly children under the age of 5. It is responsible for causing a major barrier to economic and social growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Did you know that a child dies from malaria every minute in Africa?

In South Africa, it is mainly transmitted along the border areas. Some parts of South Africa’s nine provinces (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal) are endemic to Malaria, and 10% of the population is at risk of contracting the disease (approximately 4.9 million people).

Transmission in South Africa is seasonal, with infections rising in October. It then peaks in January and February. Transmissions on the continent begin to wane towards May.

5 Top Mosquito Preventive Measures to Take to Avoid Getting this Severe Disease

Travelers can protect against mosquito bites and infection by applying numerous avoidance measures. You can start preparing these preventive measures weeks before travel to minimise your risk. Mosquito avoidance measures and antimalarial drugs are both extremely important in preventing the transmission of malaria.

1. Anti-Malaria Drugs.

   Speak to your doctor about malaria prevention tablets. Anti-Malarial medication is an essential precautionary measure to prevent transmission. Some drugs are single-dose, while others are a weekly medication or a daily medicine. Health care providers can advise which options are safe for pregnant women.

2. Mozzie Skin Patches.

   Wear Mozzie skin patches to avoid an itchy bite. These are 100% natural Vitamin B1 patches that are 100% safe to use. Mozzie Patches are an effective topical repellent that will last for 36 hours.

3. Nets & Sprays.

   Use nets, sprays, and repellents to avoid mozzie bites. Although residual spraying does not kill mozzies, they prevent them from biting. Nets can help keep most mozzies away from you while you sleep, and mosquito coils or citronella candles are also worth considering.

4. Travel Times.

   You can choose to travel during the dry season and not the rainy season, because infected mosquito larvae breed in water.

5. Covering Clothing.

   Always cover up with long sleeves and protective clothing to avoid bites. Permethrin-treated clothing can minimise the health risks of a bite. It's better to take many preventive measures rather than relying on just one.

7 Fast Facts About Mozzies You Need To Know Before Going on That Adventure

1. The most common times of day for exposure to mosquito populations that pose risk to a traveller are between dusk and dawn.
2. Scientists are working on a vaccine for Malaria, although its efficacy is not yet known.
3. Humans first became aware of the Malaria parasite in 1880.
4. Infections are caused by the female mosquito. The female, once infected, is a vector for the parasite. They, in turn, infect humans.
5. Even though there is progress made on the Malaria vaccine, it is still in its early stages. It is still advisable to take the necessary precautions and use mosquito repellents when travelling to endemic countries.
6. Malaria symptoms usually appear between 10 and 15 days after exposure to mosquito bites. This depends on the incubation period of the mosquito species. Not all mosquito species carry the Malaria parasite.
7. Incidence rates and fatalities have shown a marked decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic limited travel.

Take Control And Travel Safely. As Travel Opens Its Doors, Ensure You Have Effective Intervention!

Pack Mozzie Patches when travelling to The Kruger National Park, Pilanesberg National Park, and the Addo Elephant Park. Mozzie Patches and other insect repellents can help ward off mosquitoes when travelling to Southern African destinations. Your health is worth the small expense of these products.

  Source: nhs.uk