Malaria in Africa
Malaria in Africa is a very real issue. Travellers should not take the issue lightly and need to ensure that they have adequate protection against the disease. Learn more about Malaria.
Malaria in Africa
Posted by Dalene Ingham-Brown on 06 Feb 2012, 13:39
Categories: Travel News
Whether you're setting off on a camping safari in Africa or a luxury holiday to Africa, the fact remains that Malaria exists in certains sections of African countries and precautions need to be taken to protect travellers from the disease.
What is Malaria?
Transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes, this vector-borne disease is caused by single celled parasites. ‘Vector’ means that something carries a disease from one living thing to another. In the case of malaria, female Anopheles mosquitoes are the vector.
Other ways of contracting the disease is by blood to blood contact from needle sharing or blood transfusions. Also, a mother can transmit the disease to her unborn child.
Watch this great YouTube video of the Malaria lifecycle:
Where is malaria prevalent?
Africa is one of the many continents around the world affected by malaria. If you’re travelling in sub-Saharan Africa you have greater risk of getting malaria. Most malaria transmission happens in rural areas, however malaria also exists in urban areas. Places with warm temperatures and low altitudes harbour larger amounts of Malaria-carrying mosquitoes.
According to the Global Partnership for a Malaria-free World, supported by the World Health Organisation, sections of the following sub-Saharan countries are a malaria risk:
- Angola
- Benin
- Congo, Democratic Republic
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Liberia
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mali
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- Senegal
- Southern Sudan
- South Africa
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
When is malaria prevalent?
In the seasons that have more rainfall and higher temperatures, malaria transmission increases. Cooler, drier seasons therefore have a decreased amount of transmissions. However, in most tropical and semi-tropical countries, transmission may occur even during cooler months or periods of less rainfall.
Malaria transmitting mosquitoes bite at night time. Therefore travellers who are outdoors between dusk and dawn will be at greater risk.
Malaria Prevention
To avoid the contraction of malaria, taking an effective anti-malarial drug is the best thing you can do to protect yourself. Ways to further reduce the risk of getting malaria includes using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, using a bed net and flying insect spray.
Those traveling to malaria risk areas can almost always prevent Malaria if they diligently take an effective anti-malarial drug and use the suggested methods to further prevent mosquito bites.
Common Malaria Drugs
|
Table of common Malaria drugs |
||||
| Drug | Trade name | Dosage | Notes | Side effects |
|
Cloroquine (70% effective) |
Daramal ® |
1 Tablet 1 week before 1 Tablet per week during 1 tablet per week for 4 weeks after |
MUST be take in combination with Paludrine ® | ---------- |
|
Proguanil (70% effective) |
Paludrine ® |
1 Tablet per day 1 week before 1 Tablet per day during 1 tablet per day for 4 weeks after |
No longer effective when used alone | ---------- |
|
Chloroguine (70% effective) |
Aralen ® |
1 Tablet 1 week before 1 Tablet per week during 1 tablet per week fro 4 weeks after |
MUST be take in combination with Paludrine ® | Possible nausea, headaches, dizziness |
|
Mefloquine (90% effective) |
Larium ® |
1 Tablet 1 week before 1 Tablet per week during 1 tablet per week for 4 weeks after |
For long term use take Larium for 3 months, Doxyxycline for 1 month | Possible nausea, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, nightmares, hallucinations |
|
Doxycycline (80% effective) |
1 Tablet 2 days before 1 Tablet per day during 1 tablet per day for 4 weeks after |
Take only after a meal. Do not take during pregnancy or under 10 yeas old | Possible increased sunburn, vaginal thrush | |
|
Atovaquonum / Proguanili (99% effective) |
Malarone ® |
1 Tablet 2 days before 1 Tablet per day during 1 tablet per day for 7 days after |
Drug is new and does not seem to have severe side effects. Malaria has no resistance to date | None known |
Symptoms of Malaria
Despite using the above mentioned protective measures, travellers may become infected with malaria. If you experience any of the symptoms listed below, alert your overland guide and they will organise to transport you to the nearest medical facility. Malaria symptoms can include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Headache
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- Low blood cell counts (anemia)
- Yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye (jaundice)
If malaria infection with Plasmodium falciparum (most harmful malaria parasite) is not treated promptly, it may cause a coma, kidney failure, and death.
Malaria is extremely dangerous and should not be taken lightly. Travellers who feel ill with a fever or flu-like illness either while travelling in a malaria-risk area or after returning home, for even up to one year, should seek immediate medical attention and should tell the physician their travel history.
If you aren't up for fussing over taking precautions against Malaria, but would still like to experience a safari in Africa, why not go to a malaria-free stretch of Africa like Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa?
Reader Comments
- Sue Mueller on February 07 2012
