Pilots and Malaria [Archive]

pzu

21st Apr 2004, 22:22

As a kid in East Africa, moved in & out of 'malaria' zones - didn't always take the tablets (paludrin???), but survived OK

In mid '70's did a year in East Kalimantan - took the tablets (daraprim???) religiously but had two goes of Malaria

Recently have done 3 years in Sudan - started on combined daily & weekly stuff, but my UK Doc (with an interest in Travel/Tropical Medicine - did a year as Team Doc for Ford Rally Team etc) persuaded me to take Larium - on the basis that Larium may send you crazy, BUT Malaria kills you!!! - so far no problems;

BUT I think I now have the answer - MARMITE, according to recent reserach, those who eat MARMITE give off an 'odour' that deters MOSSIES

In East Africa, I ate Marmite every day and again in Sudan - but in East Kalimantan the only 'yeast extract' available was that inferior product from the penal settlements - VEGEMITE

MARMITE - LOVE IT OR HATE IT

:) :D :) :cool:

PZULBA - Out of Africa

montys ex teaboy

21st Apr 2004, 22:26

I'll be damned!!

My old mate marmite!!

Thanks for the info.

bigmanatc

22nd Apr 2004, 04:40

Best advice is....prevention.......use nets and reppellents, long sleeves and trousers after sunset. First sign of symtoms, flu like..usually 10-14 days after being bitten, get medical attention..ASAP...don`t think it will go away...it won`t.
Pills do not prevent malaria....Larium is not approved for pilots...

Been there, done that, got the T-shirt :ugh:

Speedbreak

22nd Apr 2004, 08:06

Avoid black clothes, Mosquitos like to fly on holding pattern above it.
And they have ATCs given radar vectors to hit you.
For information, only mozzie's female sucks blood.
...again females....
When mosquito's female ear the sound of the male, they run away.

Drink Tonic,....if you feel a kind of neck ache, get Lariam pills....

Or you can try to wisle like a male mosquito!
Not easy but... never know!

Speedbreak

chuks

22nd Apr 2004, 08:58

Dear Pruners,

This is just well-meant advice. Go see a doctor with first-hand knowledge of your specific region.

Assuming the original request was serious, the advice I got for West Africa is as follows:

The only effective prophylaxis is either Doxycycline (some kind of broad-spectrum antibiotic if my understanding is correct) or some new, rather expensive stuff I cannot remember the name of. It begins with 'M' I think...

Doxycycline makes some people's skin sensitive to sunlight. I just paid 130 quid for a six months' supply at Boots, Heathrow. A prescription is required.

The new stuff costs about one quid per day but it's supposed to be free of side-effects.

Halfan, in a blister pack of three tablets, is something one should have ready to hand in case of falling ill when medical attention is not readily available. It is not to be taken as a prophylactic, since it has some wicked side-effects.

I tried Lariam and found myself getting wobbly and depressive. My local doctor was horrified to find it had been prescribed me. Go figure....

Resochin, Paludrine, etc, are all ineffective against the disease in West Africa.

Gin tonics, mosquito nets, repellent, turning up the air con... everyone I know, including myself, has gone down with malaria after some time in West Africa. We had one guy who became ill after two weeks in country and I had my first case after more than 20 years. It's not much of a joke when you are alternately freezing and burning up, shaking like a leaf and not knowing which end to present first to the porcelain receptacle. And that is one of the milder forms. There's another one where they just find you out cold in your bed.

Very important, when travelling in regions without malaria, is making it known that you may have this disease rather than typhus, influenza, Montezuma's revenge or whatever. I know of several people who have died because of delayed recognition that they were suffering from malaria. In some cases they went unconscious, leaving the doctors guessing what the problem might be. It just takes three days to die of cerebral malaria, and if you don't die you may end up lacking some of your facilities.

Mosquitoes may be small but they do demand consideration!

Good luck!

chuks

sheii

22nd Apr 2004, 10:10

anyone ever tried malariaquin always worked for me everytime I went to see ma gran... central Kenya..... and all I had to do is have them a day or immediately I got there and it was supposed to boost your immune system...and the old repelant is always a treat not only to repel mossies but other bugs till you get acustomed to them...:}

:ok: hope this is of help

EDDNHopper

22nd Apr 2004, 17:37

some new, rather expensive stuff I cannot remember the name of. It begins with 'M' I think

Malarone

Good (perfect, in fact) if you stay less than two weeks. Start 2 days before your stay, 1 a day, finish several days after. Little to no side effects. Expensive.

Tonic:
seriously - with the average amount of quinine in tonic water you´d have to drink over 100 bottles of Schweppes a day.
also seriously - there is nothing better than G+T after a long hot day...

Gunship

22nd Apr 2004, 18:27

Tx so far for a great thread ! :ok:

I have been on and off using "perofolaxes" Spelling - what I mean preventative measures .. sorry dunno the spelling.

I used Larium once and nearly crashed into the ground. It showed a heavy negativity with me (red blood cells kills the white one's or something to that effect) but I JUST made it to the safety of terra firma in a Alouette. God Bless old oorlede "Velle Veldsman" that still flew with me that day.

Ok so for the past 20 odd years I took nothing and as described above :

If I get the **Sniffs ** (first start of a cold) or sore neck and normally moerse headaches ... I go onto viagra .. sorry I mean "ARTESUNATE".

Made in China bru ... but works like a bomb .. ask me I just came out of a heavy bout :uhoh:

We all use it here .. cheap about $5 a packet of 12. Take 4 (yes four) immediately (even after you think it is just a babbalas) and then 2 every 4 hours till COMPLETED !

Ok then .. the new kid on the block .. afterwards .. you take "TRO - MALARIAL" made in Germany bru.

I quote :

... is an anti - malarial agent which acts against the malaria pathogens by reciprocal potentiation of it's two components. It is active against all human pathogenic PLASMODIA and is also effective against strains that are RESISTANT to anti -malarial agents such as Chloroquine !

Dunno .. I did exactly that (3 tablets) and I feel like a million dollar man ... ;)

This is the latest tips from one of the best Dr's on the West Coast.

Any comments ?

Yes teh best is long sleeves but boet it is flippen 40 degrees outside - day and night .. :E

Cheers all - let's keep it rolling ... :}

Gunnss

flyhardmo

22nd Apr 2004, 20:37

quote:
"ARTESUNATE".

Made in China bru ... but works like a bomb .. ask me I just came out of a heavy bout

I was also given Artesunate a few yrs ago in Gabon and now i keep a spare packet with me. I stay away from pills even though we were supposed to sign that we had taken Doxycycline. The guys always felt a bit crook after taking them.

Its interesting to hear about marmite. Im always taking vegimite on contracts and that must be another reason that i havnt had it in yrs, touch wood. If it is about the odour that repels mozzies them i would take marmite, definately smells and tastes worse than vegimite.

Rhodie

22nd Apr 2004, 20:54

Ok, maybe another "old wives tale", but, I heard somewhere way back that the mozzies home in on the carbon-dioxide that you breath out..

Not the aftershave or the b.o. that attracts them, and they can't recognise dinner when it lies down.. (not like some people here...:E)

So, I have always used a normal standing fan when I go slumming it at my mates game farm, or anywhere else in darkest Africa - as long as there is electricity, that is, and even in winter, makes the duvet and the human heater alongside sooo much better..

Even with a net, the blasted bzzzzzzzzz keeps me awake and swatting at 'em, no such hassles with the fan. It supposedly blows all the carbon-dioxide away and the b@stards cannot get a lock-on on dinner... also, apparently they cannot land in the breeze, no, really, I'm serious... :suspect:

Yeah, I know.. outside at the braai is still a problem, use Tabard..

Oh, and Flyhard - MARMITE is MUCH better...!!! :p

Cheers

R

Gunship

22nd Apr 2004, 22:17

LOL :p Great to see there are humour in Mossies.

flyhardmo - I do the same (as most of us Saffers in any case) and always have a packet or tow handy when I leave the country.

Rhodie what makes our mozzies worse (or maybe it is a good point) is that there are NO NOISE ! ... No zzzzz niks - nothing - auna - ******all .. think their noise generators was stolen by a cleva Nigerian ;)

PS: Marmite - I love it but it is bad for the gout again ... :ouch:

Cheers all

mini

22nd Apr 2004, 23:35

Call me a coward but I'll always take something when in a zone. Larium is supposedly effective but only for short term use, after a few months it really f**ks with the system.

I've heard that the artesun or whatever its called works wonders.

I keep a kit with me, two lab slides and a prick, if you get symptoms, take a thin and thick sample on the slides, THEN take fansidar or whatever works in your region. Apparentely, diagnosis is much harder if the blood sample is taken after treatment.

Touch wood (forehead) no dose yet.

:ok:

overtorqued

23rd Apr 2004, 02:53

Whew!
Missed a couple days of prophylasis meds and took a real bad dose of Cerebral Malaria. Put me in a coma, damn near killed me...six days in the hospital...most of it in ICU.
Falciparum Malaria is insidious, yet extremely fast moving. From the initial onset of symptoms to death can be in as little as 48hrs.
Its those symptoms that you must recognise. I swore I had a flu as i had been around others with flu. While home alone, it progressed , annihilating my energy and destroying my ability to make a clear decision . I was found in bed, diapheretic, semi-conscience and rushed to a local hospital where, due to lack of knowledge about Malaria, I worsened until airlifted to a larger city hospital where I subsequently recovered...minus 20 lbs!
It's so important that at the slightest malaise, to get tested and treated ASAP.
After recovering, I discussed at length, future protection and treatment with several specialists in tropical deseases.
I now use Doxycycline. It has very low incidence of side effects, is not used with the most serious of bacterialogical infections so immunity isn't a factor and, taken with food, won't upset most stomachs. I also carry a treatment pack of Malarone, so that should I encounter symptoms...4 tabs /day for 3days straight.
I chose not to use malarone as a prophylasis as this use prevents it from being used as treatment.
I've worked with people who also don't take any prophylasis, but on the onset of symptoms, scarf down the malarone.
There's lots of info out there and lots of other opinions on prevention, treatment etc....chose your own weapon....but make sure your armed.

rotorboy

23rd Apr 2004, 03:30

cpt

24th Apr 2004, 14:43

If I understand well, humans have to swallow those awfull pills ?
Until now I was trying to force mosquitoes (female only) to swallow them...not easy and very tedious, believe me !
Should have better read the notice before.
Personnally I have given up a preventive treatment, and I rather stick to a curative one with "Alfan" but it said that "obscure" side effects might be expected ???? I'm still waiting !

contraxdog

25th Apr 2004, 18:42

Greetings,
Hi there Gunns, sorry to hear it got you swaer.
Doxyciline, Vibramicine, Cyclidox and all other broadbased anti biotics, has some funny side effects, apart from light sensitivity, that you will normally wont hear about. Your swimmers all die!
Was using it for nearnly four years when my joints started freezing up. It was the funnyest sight for my crew to see me crab to the crapper in the morning because I cant seem to straighten my arms and legs. Doc advised against using it any longer. He said to stop right away. Said if I ever got any lower tracht infection he wont be able to sve me as my body would built up a resistence against antibiotics.Needless to say, I got malaria 7 days later. Nearly died. I was negotiating my way through a couple of amber nectars on the 6th day and woke up with a hangover(incidently the same feeling the morning after we visited you Gunns) The hanover stayed and got worse. I wished at some stage that I would die.
The company now issues us with a couple of testing kits and two courses of Coartem(this is not an advertisment). I cant remember the term from Chemistry 1B, but its a chemical mirror image of the Arthemeter drug they used in the seventies. Think the chemical name is Alpha-arthemeter.
You take a small blood sample when you really feel bad, because then there is lots of parasites in the blood. Late after noon usually does it. insert it in the test plate and wait for the confimational red line.
When the red line shows you drink 4 pills then 2 every 4 hours. If you start in the afternoon you will be over it in the morning.
Oh yes, after a scientific experiment we conducted somewhere in the Congo, Peaceful Sleep was more efective than Tabbard.
From personal experience I'll say Dark Rum and Coke while snacking on Garlic works better than Gin and tonic.

Marmite will be accompaning me from now
Thanks guys!
"the time has come the walrus said to speak of many things, of pirate ships and sealing wax and cabbages and kings" :)

flyhardmo

25th Apr 2004, 21:18

Just remebered something else.
GARLIC BOMBS.
For those of you who dont know about it read carefully.

Wrap a whole clove of garlic in cheese (for the swiss and french folk who are fussy about heir cheese, gouda or chedder is fine) and grated usually works best because you can wrap the cheese a bit better. A few drops of tobasco and then just dump the whole bomb in your mouth and enjoy:ok:

Keeps the mozzies and night fighters away

Deanw

26th Apr 2004, 11:41

From todays Cape Times:

New malaria drug cheap, but 'not ideal'
April 26, 2004

By Jo-Anne Smetherham

A new malaria drug, expected to cost under one US dollar for a course of treatment, could be available to African governments in two years.

The artemisinin-combination drug might offer fresh hope to the many African countries with rising malaria death tolls.

The World Health Organisation (Who), non-profit foundation Medicines for Malaria Venture and GlaxoSmithKline have announced a joint effort to develop the drug, which will contain chlorproguanil, dapsone and artesunate (CDA).

"The flavour of the decade is artemisinin-combination therapy," said medical director of the Netcare Travel Clinic, Stephen Toovey. It is intended for "resource-poor settings. It is not going to be an ideal drug, but we don't have the ideal".

Malaria is reported to have killed more people than all the wars in history. Every day almost 3 000 people, most of them children, die of the disease.

Who estimates there are at least 300 million malaria cases in the world every year, 90% of them in Africa.

CDA will cost around one-third of artemether-lumefantrine, a drug much-hailed for its high cure rates in SA.

Artemisinin alone kills malaria parasites more quickly than other drugs but must be taken for seven days, so many patients don't finish the course. Artemisinin-combination drugs must be taken for about three days. Other more expensive artemisinin combinations are available but "nobody knows which is best", said Toovey who said that the disadvantage of the new drug is that it causes anaemia in children.

Gunship

4th May 2004, 11:28

:ugh: Gents- just came out of 10 day malaria ... and I tell you this one was bad .. (no I did not loose anyweight PP and Vis ;) )

I took Artesanate and had the fever for only about 3 days in which I was stuffed.

Luckily I had a lady looking after me - as I was alone in a room and on "leave". Hot tea and water was my survival and I did not dihidrate.

The worst was after the fever was the headaches .. it went on for about a week. I would be 100% the one moment and the next after typing a bit or so I would start seeing double and woep - I knew I had to go and lie down.

Artesanate worked (again) but then my blood pressure went through the roof. (OK we are having a bit of serious sh!t and stress here) but that just aggrevated the headaches.

Only a blood pressure pill sorted me out and I feel great now.

Thanks for a great thread.

Nellis has the malaria now - so we can await his feedback ;)

Cheers,

Gunsss

AfricanSkies

4th May 2004, 16:35

"also, apparently they cannot land in the breeze, no, really, I'm serious... "

heh heh...the crosswinds beyond limits, eh?

I recently bought a little machine from Singapore which works on a small 9v battery (not included) and emits noises which scare off the mosquitoes. It stated eloquently on the packet that you are only bitten by pregant female mosquitoes "who are forced to suck the blood of man or beast in order to nurture their eggs".

On Setting I it makes the sound of a male mosquito which apparently scares away the pregnant females who have obviously had enough of the old mozzy jiggy-jiggy anyway and on Setting II it makes the combined sound of male mosquitoes and also a dragonfly, the mosquito's main predator, so they think they're going to be chowed. It also recommends that you switch between Setting I and Setting II every few hours. This probably makes other mossies think that the male mossie actually defeated the dragonfly, though, so I keep the dragonfly on. Works like a bomb but sounds like having your own pet insect farm next to the bed...

Otherwise its the Tabard cream and the long rods and the aircon on max if available. Mozzie nets are lovely at least you know they can't get you even if you can hear them (my revenge!) but when you take one on contract, they already have them and when you don't take one, they don't have them and you spend 1/2 the night hunting down mozzies which mysteriously dissapear just after flying out of the white background.

Local business opportunity!! Instead of the watches, locals can start selling their blood for a few sifas so we can put a saucer on the floor next to the bed for the mozzies:E

Gunship

4th May 2004, 19:03

:p LOL - great one African Skies .. you made the rolling thunder under my boep ... :p

As I said before - we have the "Stealth Mozzies" - not a sound ... not a word .. just a bite :ugh:

................On a different note ................

I saw a program on Disco channel / National Geo .. where a Brit uses "polyestrain" spelling? balls in open lavvie's in Zanzibar to get rid of mozzies.

The locals poo and wee on top and the balls come to the surface after the "attack".

And then the mozzie 's can not lay their eggs on top of the small balls .. great idea but that is not our problem .. we do not have standing water of any sorts.

People here believe they lay their eggs in the mango trees .. :}

CrashDive

4th May 2004, 22:51

Top thread guys !

Some years back I live & worked in SA, from where spent a fair amount of time working in Zim and in which ( Zim ) just about all the okes I worked with contracted Malaria - and this includes a lady friend of my wife’s who came to stay with us for a holiday and contracted it within a week of arriving ( sh!t happens huh ?! )

Personally I didn't bother with the pills and instead stuck to vast amounts of G&T - purely for medicinal purpose of course.... ;)

That said the ultimate answer is to NOT get bitten and anything which helps to prevent that must be a good thing.

So, to that end, perhaps some of the following might be of use – especially to an airline crew member who’s just passing through, e.g. maybe on an infrequent / ‘minimum rest’ trip - and of which I’d appreciate any views: Mosquito nets such as Mosinet (http://www.instantmosquito.net/pictures.htm)
Insect repellents containing such things as DEET / Pyrethrins / Pyrethroids / etc ( see: Insect Repellent Guide (http://www.safariquip.co.uk/insect_repellent_information.html) ). Nb. I’d be particularly keen to know of side-effects from using these ( esp at higher concentrations, e.g. Repel 100 (http://www.safariquip.co.uk/cgi-bin/ss000099.pl?PRODREF=113&NOLOGIN=1[/url) )
Electronic repellents such as that wristwatch thingee which apparently emits a sound that’s similar to a male mosquito’s wing beat and ergo supposedly scares away the females mosies.Thanks.

Tony

menikos

20th Mar 2006, 11:04

Hi,

was wondering how many expat pilots in Africa are concerned with Malaria-Paludism, what are the risks, how to prevent it, etc...

Cheers.

chandlers dad

21st Mar 2006, 08:12

Am very concerned with Malaria. Just finished a 10 day stint in Lagos and did not spend much time out at night for this reason.

Know of a pilot in this same area who stayed longer (3 months) and got Malaria. Had to go home for a couple of months as he could no longer fly and is still effected by it at times.

Its worth keeping an eye on IHMO.

CD

Phenomenon

21st Mar 2006, 10:45

I definitely agree... You have to watch out for it. Make sure you always have medication with you to treat you once you have it but out of personal experience I would say DON'T take the preventative medication.

Apart from the fact that you're not allowed to take most of them when you're flying, if you're going to get malaria, you will get it and the "preventative" medications tend to suppress the symptoms. Rather get it and know you have it so it can be treated.

Just get the basics like a mosquito net to sleep under and some insect repelant like tabard or peacefull sleep... :ok:

Soap Box Cowboy

21st Mar 2006, 18:13

Deffinetly agree with staying off preventative medication. Be smart and use your net and cover up at night, African mosquitos are most active after sunset.

One story is that they do not like the smell of Garlic so eat plenty of that. They also don't like the smell of alchohol so that is the best excuse ever to go for a few beers. :E

Also recomend getting the meds for after you get it and also if you can get hold of a few self test kits and read up any info you can find on Malaria, especially when out in the middle of no where.

Remeber meds are very sensetive to heat so store them right, there is no guarantee that local available products might even work after been transported to the back of beyond or stored inproperly.

It seems inevetable to get it so good luck :ok:

nutcracker43

21st Mar 2006, 20:41

Malaria.

I got malaria in the lowveld way back in 1965...they said there was no malaria in the area but I can assure you there was. I have had about six or seven re-ocurrances and it is quite debilitating. In the service we were given paludrine and one was expected to take it...it had little to no effect since people still managed to contract the disease.

I have lived in Somalia and in Nigeria and I have to say that malaria never once visited me in these particular areas. As some of the contributors have suggested...get a good grade net and sleep in that. The mosquitos tend to inhabit the dark areas of a house or room so it is useful to spray under the beds, cupboards, wardrobes and anywhere where you think they might be lurking. Wear lond sleeved shirts at night and expose only the minimum. A repellent helps at night...just before going to bed another spray of the room in all thne areas mentioned would be useful.

Places my maleria recurred...UK (twice), France (once) ME (four times).

Hope this is of use!

NC43

birdlady

21st Mar 2006, 21:38

As Phenomenon said do not take the preventitive medicine. It does mask the symptoms and will not show up on a blood test if your positive for malaria. This ofcourse can lead to cerebral malaria :uhoh: uhoh: Use common sense and you should be fine.........:hmm: :hmm:

Solid Rust Twotter

22nd Mar 2006, 04:40

Some companies issue malaria prophylactics and insist on their use. Woe betide a crewmember found to have malaria while on tour without traces of the prophylactic in their system. This could be sidestepped by taking a dose or two if one felt ill so the stuff could be seen during an examination.

Blah Blah Fishpaste

22nd Mar 2006, 06:40

You must remember aswell that a mozi has to bite someone else with malaria first, and then bite you within seven days of having biten the malaria person, in order for you to get malaria. The mozi is not born with malaria, its just the carrier.

So find out if other people in the area have malaria as well, that will give you a good idea of your chances of getting it. The higher the density of the population where you will operate, the higher your risk, as there are more people for the mozi to bite within the seven days. After seven days, the malaria dies in the mozi.

If you do get biten, start looking for symptons after about a week to 14 days. There after you should be cool.

A very effective preventitive measure is a fan in your room directly over your bed.
The mozi is attracted to your cabon dioxide breath as you exhale to zone in on you so this disperses that trail. They are also fair weather flyers and cant land in cross winds so it keeps them of you as well.

Hope it helps and just keep your immune system boosted as this is still your last defence.

Adios amigo!:ok:

rags

22nd Mar 2006, 09:02

Spoke to a doc from the WHO in Kinshasa some time ago. The research show that the malaria moz in that area only becom activ late at night(9-10) and stop early in the morning.
Now that tells us to be indoors at that time. Sorry for those who like to sit outside in resturants etc till late night. Put the braai up early

The best preventative is to cover yourself in anti moz spray. Do not just spray the exposed parts of the skin but also where clothing stretch tight cos the boz can bite through the clothing.

Be careful of vehicles. The mozzies hide inside in the dark areas and zop your legs while driving If its your vehicle, spray the vehicle regularly with a long lasting bugspray. If its a taxi spray the driver and the car. Jokes aside, before leaving in the morning spray your lega, socks etc just for this reason.

The best cure for malaria is not to get bitten Use common sence and a lot of spray.

Keep it safe

Airforce1

22nd Mar 2006, 09:31

I have lived on and off in West/Central Africa on contract for over 5 years. And surprisingly have not got malaria yet, touch wood.

You can use Prophylactics, such as Daramal/Paludrine or Doxycyline (just an antibiotic). Larium is one of the ones that is illegal for pilots. So many people say it masks the symptoms-rubbish and they say the long term (more than a month) effects of the medicine on your body is worse than malaria-rubbish, what’s worse than Cerebral Malaria. If you gonna take medicine for more than a year or two than it’s not worth taking them, just ridiculous. If less than a year I would recommend 2 months, Daramal/Paludrine and the 2 months Doxycycline and then keep rotating between the two medicines so the body does not get used to the medicine. Often though these do have side effects of skin being sensitive to sun-so take them at night before sleeping for them to get through your system.I stopped using the stuff though about 3 years ago, and rather cover up.

In medical tests Tabard has proven good, while Peaceful Sleep failed the tests despite having the same ingredient, Diethyltoluamide (look for this if you buying a local anti mossie spray).

Malaria test kits are good but be aware that it can only pick up the parasite in your blood once you have a fever, so if you feeling funny-it wont pick it up if you test.

If you do get malaria, try use a local medicine only found in West/Africa called Arinate (in a yellow box). It is a four day pill programme, that is better they say than checking into a hospital, can get Arinate for about 5 dollars. Even if you think you might be getting malaria, or any sort of flu symptoms (weak joints/sore neck/dark urine/drowsiness)-take the stuff at the first opportunity. It could save you. I have had a few occasions where I thought I was getting malaria and started the four day course, only to find out it was not malaria. For 5 dollars, worth the cash, prevent rather than cure.Have had a few friends who used it and it worked. Obviously if you have Cerebral than the hospital is calling....and the grim reaper at times.

Other than that like said above by everyone else, cover up, they do eat through socks so still put Tabard on under. The female mossie (malaria carrying one) feeds at dusk and dawn, and be aware of the mossie with striped legs, often is a carrier. As for the statement that they are attracted to the CO2 of your breath....haha don't think so,but the fan does help them not to hover over you. Crank that aircon and immobilize the mossie squadron.

Hope this is help, Why did Noah let that mossie on the ark?....or did the little basterd smuggle himself and his bloodsucking wife on board...?
:ok:

Blah Blah Fishpaste

22nd Mar 2006, 10:21

Airforce1, do the research before knocking the info:mad:

soggyboxers

22nd Mar 2006, 11:15

Menikos,
Here's a little something I posted earlier on the Medical forum:
I have been working in malarial areas of west Africa now for 28 years and presently take nothing; I just carry Malarone tablets with me for self-treatment if I happen to develop malarial symptoms and am unable to get to visit a doctor for any reason. I also carry a letter in my wallet saying that I work in West Africa and in case of unconsciousness malaria may be suspected as a cause.
I used to work on a contract where the client (Exxon/Mobil) insisted on anti-malarial prophylaxis. I tried Malarone, but gave it up because it gave me mouth ulcers, excess stomach acid and faint feelings of nausea. After that I took Doxycycline daily. That also had side-effects as I am very fair skinned and it made me much more susceptible to sunburn, but that was preferable to the Malarone. I have friends who have caught malaria here and have been treated with co-Artemether, which also seems to be very effective, but I don't think it's recommended as a prophylactic.
As others have said, the most important thing is totry and avoid being bitten. Make sure that the rooms you sleep in have effective insect screens on the windows, or get a mosquito net to put over your bed. Make sure that bedrooms are sprayed twice a day with a good insecticide. Try to avoid sitting outside just around dusk as that's when you're most likely to get bitten. If you do have to sit out at that time try to wear a long-sleeved shirt, long trousers and socks and spray exposed skin, especially around the neck, wrists and ankles with a repellent containing DEET.
So far, I've been lucky and have never caught malaria (maybe because my regular tipple - Pastis and tonic - repels mosquitos and most other things ), but having once had to spend some time in the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases being treated for another illness, and seen many people being brought in comatose with malaria, it's not something I'd ever treat lightly. I have one friend who lives in Scotland, arrived home for leave to find that his wife was sick with flu. Within 48 hours he had also developed flu-like symptoms and went to visit his doctor. Luckily his doctor knew that he worked in Nigeria and instead of just assuming that he had caught flu sent him for testing for malaria. He had a severe infection and is fortunate that his wise GP decided not to just take his flu symptoms at face value.

I also found the following article which may amuse you, as long as you don't have very smelly feet:

Researchers in Amsterdam found that sweaty feet and smelly Dutch cheese whet the appetites of malaria mosquitos. In a test involving people with washed and unwashed feet, malaria mosquitos showed a clear preference for the scent found on human feet. Furthermore, the Dutch entymologists discovered that these mosquitos were equally attracted to a piece of strongly-scented, ripe Dutch Limburger cheese. According to the scientists this makes sense because Limburger - a pungent, white, soft cheese - smells a lot like the 'toe cheese' found between human toes.

Unfortunately, no matter how much you wash your feet, you'll never be able to completely get rid of the smell because its simply a basic human smell. Hence, washing feet more often is probably not a plausible defense against malaria.

So, what does this study have to do with you? Well, researchers hope that one day they can reproduce the odor artifically and use them in making better mosquito traps.

So till then, keep those feet clean and lay off on the cheese.

There's also quite a useful WHO site emphasising all these points:

http://www.who.int/malaria/docs/healthworkers/healthworkers.htm

Buitenzorg

22nd Mar 2006, 18:33

menikos,

If you’re from Paris, I’m sure you’ll be able to find the French national institute of tropical studies, whatever its precise name may be. Ask them for their medical department or (if it still exists) the specialized tropical diseases hospital. Then tell those experts precisely where you’re going, what you’ll be doing and for how long, and they will give you the most current and up-to-date recommendations. I cannot emphasize the importance of the latest info enough: the parasites constantly evolve and misuse of malaria drugs (mostly: not taking the complete course) leads to drug-resistant strains developing in an amazingly short time. The info which was completely correct for one of the posters here even 6 months ago may be worse than useless to you now.

Malaria is a killer. Some strains can kill you within a day of the first symptoms showing.

In general, as with most bad things, prevention is better than cure. Firstly, avoid getting bitten. Sleep under a mosquito net, avoid going out at or after dusk, wear long sleeves and trousers at and after dusk, use mosquito repellant (and yes, the garlic eating helps).

Secondly, your body will to some extent fight the intrusion by the parasites by itself. Help your body by remaining healthy: regular light exercise (fitness freaks tend to be more susceptible to infections than normally healthy people), a balanced diet, avoid chronic alcohol abuse - that’s the hard one!

Drugs that can be taken as prophylactics (prevention), have many drawbacks. Their efficacy is most limited against falciparum malaria – the most dangerous form. Some have side effects that preclude flying while you’re taking them, others have side effects after long-term use. Once again, discuss with the experts in tropical medicine – not with pilots – whether or not prophylaxis will be right for you. Do mention you’re a pilot though, it will be an important factor in their recommendation.

Lastly, realize that none of these defenses are perfect. If you start feeling woozy, take your temperature. If you are running a fever, get a blood test done – NOW! Forget the idea of self-test kits, a blood test for malaria involves taking one drop of blood, concentrating it in a centrifuge, and looking at it through a microscope to identify the parasites. Takes about 10 minutes, but it requires equipment found only in a doctor’s office. If you cannot get a blood test done right away (within one hour), start taking the prescribed drugs for a malaria attack, and still get the blood test done as soon as possible. If the blood test turns out to be negative for malaria, no harm will have been done by taking the drugs. To follow this last advice you should carry a complete course of malaria treatment with you.

As an aside, I’ve noticed some people take such pride in their relative immunity to malaria that they go into denial about having the disease and refuse treatment or even testing. Sound crazy? It is! They all wound up in intensive care and one guy’s kidneys had started breaking down by the time we got him on an ambulance Lear to Geneva.

After returning to Europe, don’t think you are out of the woods yet. People have gone down with malaria 6 months after leaving Africa. Actually, a very few have contracted it years after their departure but their numbers are small enough to ignore. I would advice to always carry a card stating you have just returned from a malaria area and that if you collapse, a check for malaria should be run. One problem people returning to Europe or North America have encountered is a reluctance bordering on obstinacy on the part of some doctors to consider the possibility of malaria; they see it so seldom that they aren’t familiar with tests or current drug regimes and seem to have a hard time acknowledging the fact. I would suggest instructing your family and/or co-workers that if you have a bad fever and are unable to fend for yourself they should ask the doctor if he tested you for malaria, and if the answer is along the lines of “Oh, it’s a flu, no need for that” to take you, by kidnapping if necessary, to a hospital specializing in tropical diseases. I personally know three people who are alive today only because their colleagues kidnapped them from a hospital and took them to a Navy clinic.

menikos

23rd Mar 2006, 10:07

Hello,

really thank you all for the precious information given, by using a common sense you can just help yourself.

Cheers

MostlyModerate

24th Mar 2006, 14:06

Starting one month before moving into a malarial area, take 2 Paludrine tablets every day at breakfast time. Make this a religious obligation. Do not fail ! Ensure your staff put the Paludrine on the table first thing every morning. If Sunday is a day off, have them put it out on Saturday night. Especially important for bachelors, who are notorious for forgetting - especially when p******d. Keep a backup supply in the meds cupboard.
2 tablets for adults, one tablet for children. Every day, without fail, even when on leave, and continue for at least two months after final departure from the area.
Close bedroom windows and doors at about 4.00 pm, spray rooms and landings/corridors. Erect mosquito nets and spray INSIDE the nets. If you have airconditioning, turn it on as early as you can.
Work out an "air-lock" system, or screening to keep mosquitos out of the treated areas.
Out of doors, especially in the evenings, mosquitos will zero in on any bare flesh, and below knee height they just love drilling through socks and stockings. No longer fashionable, but there was a good rationale for mosquito boots. Spray vulnerable areas with "Off", or similar repellant. The good stuff is harmless to skin or fabrics.
Avoid the weekly prophylactics ( SundaySundayMedicine as it was known). Miss one dose and you have lost a week's protection. Miss one dose of Paludrine and you have only lost a day. But if you do decide to go weekly, NOT Sunday ! Too easy to forget after a good Saturday night.

Whatever happens, you are going to get bitten, and malaria is going to get into your bloodstream. Paludrine will keep the parasites suppressed and help prevent the development of full blown malaria - which at best is very unpleasant and at worst fatal.
In most cases, after leaving the area ( and maintaining prophylaxis for a while), the parasites will die off. However, it might be a good idea to carry a card in the wallet to say you have lived in a malarial area, should you be found in distress.

My wife and I plus three small children lived in tropical Africa for 12 years, and the above regime kept us perfectly protected.

p.s. Keep a tube of Anthisan handy - the bites itch like hell !

Solid Rust Twotter

24th Mar 2006, 14:17

Contract sickle cell anaemia. Parasites can't develop in those who have the condition.

Tokunbo

25th Mar 2006, 09:03

Menikos,
Unfortunately Plasmodium falciparum is constantly evolving and developing resistance to many of the older anti-malarial drugs, especially Chloroquine.
Most of Africa and certainly nearly all tropical countries in Africa, with the exception of Botwswana, Mauritania and Namibia have chloroquine (trade name Paludrine in UK) resistant malaria and taking Paludrine will give very little protection. Paludrine, anyway must always be taken with a weekly dose of Nivaquine. Side effects of these two drugs are stomach irritation, nausea and mouth ulcers. If you are going to an area where you can take Chloroqine (Nivaquine or Avloclor) and Proguanil (Paludrine), the recommended regime is to start taking one week before travelling and continue for 4 weeks after returning. If you are travelling to any of the tropical countries in Africa, the WHO and most tropical medical centres now recommend either one Malarone tablet daily (starting 2 days before you travel and continuing for one week after you return) or one 100mg capsule of Doxycycline daily ((starting 2 days before you travel and continuing for 4 weeks after you return).
Check up on a regular basis what the recommended regime is for the country you're visiting as new drugs are being developed all the time as resistance to old ones is built up. If you're a pilot definitely avoid Mefloquine (Larium) as it can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia in a some people. Definitely stay away from Halofantrine (Halofan) as it has been known to cause irregular heartbeats, even resulting in death.

EDDNHopper

25th Mar 2006, 21:41

Tokunbo,

your post and Mr. Twotter´s one about sickle cell aneamia are the only ones here that cover everything (almost) fine and in a correct way.

Obviously a typing error though:
chloroquine (trade name Paludrine in UK)
You must have meant Proguanil there instead of chloroquine. Chloroquine is traded as Nivaquine, Resochin etc.

Quite correct: Paludrine alone does NOT help. You MUST combine Paludrine with chloroquine.

Just for the record, some people get bad skin reactions when exposed to sunshine, under Doxycycline medication. Not a good idea in the tropics...

And then, of course, there is always Gin adn Tonic. :E You only need about 50 to 80 G&Ts per day to get the appropriate dose of alcohol and quinine.;)

Tokunbo

26th Mar 2006, 17:21

EDDN,
Sorry must have been having a bad day drinking enough Gin and Tonics to keep up my quinine levels :ok:
You're quite correct, Chloroquine is normally traded as Avloclor or Nivaquine, and Proguanil hydrochloride normally trades as Paludrine.
The point I was actually trying to make is that they are only effective together and normally only any use against Plasmodium vivax, ovale and malariae. It has little use in most African countries against P. falciparum. As soggyboxers said, currently the best chemoprophylactics are either Malarone or doxycycline, one causing gastro-intestinal irritation and the other photosensitivity. You take your choice

Gouabafla

27th Mar 2006, 10:59

These days, (mainly travelling in and out of West and Central Africa) I tend to use Doxycycline. I was on paludrine/chorloquine for twelve years living in the bush in Ivory Coast: it didn't keep me completely free of malaria but living where we did and doing the job we did being free of malaria was always going to be difficult. My wife had a dreadful time for about eight years and its only when she switched to doxcycline that things really settled down for her. The chloroquine/paludrine thing never worked for her (and larium was worse).

It is well worth noting that if you are in a malaria area and you do get bitten, then malaria becomes a stress related disease. If you get really tired or stressed, then your prophylaxis will really struggle to deal with the parasites. If you are likely to be seriously exposed to palu, take a treatment with you everywhere you go (our family carry arsumax - even though we are mainly based in the UK now).

Airforce1

27th Mar 2006, 17:20

Blah Blah Fishpaste,
Airforce1, do the research before knocking the info
I had done the research...now back yourself up! Tell me that mossies zone in to the Carbon dioxide in your breath.... I need a chuckle :p

SAT_BOSS

31st May 2006, 10:20

Guys I need some info.

Do people spray Mosquito’s with Aircraft to prevent the spread of Malaria? It’s just a funny for me as it’s the largest single killer in Africa and spraying them from the air would seem an effective method

Any one knows any operators that do this / did this???

Let me know

Propellerpilot

31st May 2006, 11:10

Malaria does not get sprayed. They treat waterways and lakes, ponds with chemicals to kill of the mosquitos in lavae and pupae stadges - but even that is very controversial... so: I don't think so mate.

Putcodrvr

31st May 2006, 13:25

The treehuggers put up a major fuss way back when it was done by air!:eek: Claimed the DDT that was sprayed caused deformities in embryo's etc. Company that has done Tse Tse contracts recently and also had an effect on mozzies, is Orsmond Aerial Spray based in Bethlehem. Did the spraying at night at treetop level!!:D Large cojones!!!!

AC690

1st Jun 2006, 09:03

Busy with that right now in Namibia and Botswana.

Heli-Jet

2nd Jun 2006, 03:35

Helicopter company using a Hughes 500 sprayed for mossie in west africa, will get you the contract name

B Sousa

2nd Jun 2006, 13:31

Helijet
That used to be Evergreen. Had a friend put one of their 500s in the water there. They sprayed for Black Flys.

flyboy2

3rd Jun 2006, 11:17

Years ago in the Okavango, a well-known South African company
used AC500's to night-spray against Tsetse-flies.
Low-level with powerful lights.

Huge outcry from Greenies & Tree-huggers.

By reducing Tsetse, cattle farmers around the Okavango profited.

In the fifties, S-51 helicopters sprayed Northern KZN with DDT & reputedly stocks of that era still remain today. Certain people think it should be re-applied again.

currawong

4th Jun 2006, 10:08

There are soft options around now that can be applied without upsetting too many people.

" A - Bait" springs to mind.

It is applied to the water, not a target on the wing, therefore large, less drift prone droplets. In daylight.:ok:

It affects only mosquito larvae, preventing proper developement of their wings. Meaning they cannot leave the water.

So, the food chain is relatively unaffected, as fish are still able to feed on them.

Weapon of choice in Queensland, Australia. Not known for malaria but other remarkably similar diseases exist here.

saywhat

4th Jun 2006, 14:51

I'll bet it's not free, and if it's not given, it aint gonna get used in Africa.

Here our government pollicy is that a good diet should keep most ills away.

currawong

5th Jun 2006, 10:30

I hear what you are saying.

Got tangled up in the tendering process for some of this work a couple of years back.

The local govt. official in charge of such things let slip that the vehicles "fogging" insecticide in the built up areas here were only sometimes actually loaded with insecticide.

All a matter of public perception, apparantly.

salvpir

12th Apr 2007, 14:12

Hi
is any one able to give me infos about the medical aspect of working in countries like Burghina Faso, Mali or Ivory Coast...specifically about the malaria prophylaxis ?
Thanks...

Rat Catcher

13th Apr 2007, 04:08

Malaria...DANGEROUS! We all know that but as a Tropical Meds person said to me when I had it you have to know what it is before you treat it! Duh you say!
Fact was felt like flu on Sunday, not so bad Monday, stuffed Tuesday. Blood test negative, Wednesday blood test negative, Thursday blood test negative, Liver function test satisfactory. By the end of Thursday not feeling too good (lack of food etc) Friday Blood test Positive.
Thank god was all I could say, had my Halfan but took about 6 months before I would say all was normal. The moral of this is, the Doc would not give me ANYTHING until he was sure as there are different strains and you can mask one type inadvertantly and make things worse. Pilots by trade are all good self fixers but in this case would say as others did that prevention is by far the better cure!
Sorry if I have duplicated anyone else, 35 years here and only 1 go touch wood!
Fly safe all and sundown to sunrise IS the time for both types of night fighters:E :E :E

Tokunbo

13th Apr 2007, 05:33

salvpir,

In all the countries you mention, falciparum malaria is the prevalent strain. It has little use in most African countries against P. falciparum. As previously mentioned on this thread, currently the best chemoprophylactics are either Malarone or doxycycline, one causing gastro-intestinal irritation and the other photosensitivity. Many companies here now issue their expatriate staff with Coartem tablets to take if they think they have malaria while they're out on leave, becasue many doctors in countries which don't have malaria fail to diagnose it, which has led to several people I know dying of it when at home. Definitely stay away from Halofantrine (Halofan) as it has been known to cause irregular heartbeats, even resulting in death. I guess Ratcatcher was lucky when he took his :}

kotakota

13th Apr 2007, 06:08

I recently returned to Kenya coast after many years away . I spent many years in both Kenya and Malawi as a boy pilot and had a few brushes with malaria along the way. Not had it for 20 years now , but understandably was more than a little anxious on my return.
The only anti -malaria dawa /muti / medicine I could get here in the Eastern Med was VIBRAMYCIN from Pfizer , another name for doxycycline . After I paid for it , instructions in GREEK ! , advised to stay out of the sun ! This rather negated the winter holiday / watersports regime planned .
On arrival , I decided to take the path recommended by the locals who live there , and keep the mozzies off . So , nets , spraying , etc etc , but still got nailed by one persistent little buzzer.
Visited the local chemist , same Asian geezer been there 32 years , gave me a course of Coartem in case of malarial attack as well as another little bomb called ORODAR to take concurrently. These are made in Nairobi by Elys Chemical Industries and consist of 500 mg SULFADOXINE and 25 mg PYRIMETHAMINE . I would appreciate anyones experience / opinions on these please. I may go back for longer periods and wouldlike a 'plan'.
I did not use them as I did not contract anything nasty.
By the way , go easy on the G&Ts , malaria loves to attack a weakened liver.

Tokunbo

13th Apr 2007, 18:13

kotakota,

Sulfadoxine with pyrimethamine is also known by the brand name Fansidar and was a new antimalarial about 15 years ago. Why anyone would want to take these in conjunction with Coartem is beyond me, and would probably severely punish your liver. If you have Coartem as a malaria cure, you shouldn't need anything else. You could take malarone as an anti-malarial, but read my advice on them in previous posts. Doxycycline is quite an effective prophylaxis, but in some light-skinned individuals who burn easily it may make them more liable to sunburn. It probably has less side effects than any of the other anti-malarial prohylaxis available at present. If you're not an aviator and only coming for a few weeks, you could consider Mefloquine (Larium). However, be aware that it can cause depression, anxiety and paranoia in a some people and is not recommended for aircrew. It is a fairly effective anti-malarial. As long as you use a good sunscreen and don't have very sensitive skin, doxycycline is probably not too bad, with Coartem as your treatment if you still contract malaria.