Malaria Prevention - Five Ways to Avoid Catching It on Safari - Answering Service Resources

Home
>
Outdoors
>
Malaria Prevention - Five Ways to Avoid Catching It on Safari

Malaria Prevention - Five Ways to Avoid Catching It on Safari

Malaria is endemic to most of the areas in Africa where safari trips are still possible which means you will need to take malaria prevention precautions to protect yourself against catching the disease when you travel there.

There are five things you can do to avoid catching malaria on a safari holiday.

1. Malaria Tablets

It's important to consult your GP when deciding on the brand of malaria tablets for your trip because they affect everyone differently and your medical history might play a role in the choice.

There are three types of tablets that are still considered to provide adequate malaria prevention (up to 98%) even though there is no drug that is 100% effective and some of them may have mild side effects - Malarone, Larium and Doxycycline.

Paludrine and Chloroquine are less than 60% effective because the disease has built up a resistance to these drugs over the years.

2. Safari Clothing

Mosquito's become much more active at dusk and during the night and early morning so you need to make sure that you cover up any exposed skin with the right clothing when you are outside.

It is often still very warm during the evenings but resist the temptation to stay in t-shirt and short trousers and rather cover up with long trousers, a long sleeve shirt and socks to protect your ankles against bites. They can't bite you through material.

Remember that malaria prevention is much better than cure.

3. Mosquito repellent

make sure that you apply mosquito repellent to any areas that your clothing doesn't cover particularly your hands and your neck.

Repellents that contain DEET are very good for keeping the mosquito's away but remember to re-apply periodically because the effect diminishes over time.

4. Mosquito Nets

Most safari companies do have mosquito nets installed in the accommodation they provide for their guests so make sure you check with them first if you are planning on buying one for your trip.

But not all accommodation in Africa has them and if you are going to be spending time before or after your safari it might be a good idea to have one handy.

Make sure that you purchase Permethrin treated nets as that stop the mosquitoes from biting through the material, protects against damaged or poorly erected netting and decreases the amount of insects in the room.

5. Malaria Free Safaris

The most effective way to avoid catching malaria is of course to stay away from the areas in which it occurs and there are some safari areas in South Africa which are malaria free and still provide an authentic safari experience with the big five animals available for viewing.

Madikwe, Shamwari, Pilansberg and Addo Elephant Park are examples of some fantastic game reserves that are completely malaria free making all the other malaria prevention measures unnecessary.

These are the malaria tablets including their dosage and side effects that are available to prevent malaria on a safari trip.

Mosquito netting tips and advice to make sure you choose the most effective one to protect you from malaria in Africa.

In The News:

3 creative ways to give back - and enjoy the outdoors
Arizona Republic, AZ - 4 hours ago
by Gene D'Adamo - Oct. 11, 2008 12:00 AM Looking for a place to volunteer? Here are three ideas for putting your time or your used items to good use: ...

We say: Bob Lamb, Tribune outdoors editor/golf writer, about the ...
La Crosse Tribune, WI - 1 hour ago
Sundayâ€™s Green Bay Packers-Seattle Seahawks game should be a quickie for several reasons. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is nursing a sore throwing ...

Outdoors calendar
The State Journal-Register, IL - 40 minutes ago
Send calendar items to chris.young@sj-r.com or Outdoors, The State Journal-Register, One Copley Plaza, Springfield, IL 62705.

Outdoor Workouts A Greener Alternative To Gym
CBS 3, PA - 11 hours ago
Keren Sachs is getting ready for a triathlon and squeezes in five to six workouts a week, most of them outdoors. "Taking in the fresh air and enjoying the ...

SCV Outdoors Report: Things That Go "Whoo" In The Night
KHTS Radio, CA - 13 hours ago
That way, when you head outdoors on Halloween night, youâ€™ll be prepared for things that go â€œwhoooâ€¦â€ in the night. Weâ€™re going to start this week with: This ...

Transition From Indoor to Outdoor Climbing
MountainZone.com, WA - 56 minutes ago
For those who want to transition their need to reach great heights to the great outdoors, realize that climbing outdoors is a very different experience than ...
Find Shelter While Mountaineering MountainZone.com
all 2 news articles

Outdoors Report: Oct. 10
Houston Chronicle, United States - Oct 9, 2008
By BINK GRIMES and WILKENS WEATHER For the Chronicle Buddy Oakes of Hackberry Rod and Gun reported great action for trout and redfish under birds. ...

Outdoors: State parks ideal for hiking
Waterbury Republican American, CT - 1 hour ago
By Bob Gregorski Republican-American Autumn is an opportune time to spend time outdoors. Walking, hiking and jogging are popular outdoor recreation that ...

Following Busy Year, Suns Ready For Great Outdoors
Suns.com - 1 hour ago
Hosting an NBA contest outdoors, however, at a venue which has yet to host such an event is a whole new ballgame. Because of this, the Phoenix Suns ...

Suns, Nuggets set for outdoor game
AZ Central.com, AZ - 6 hours ago
Tennis Garden Saturday against the Denver Nuggets, but he wishes the outdoor game was a little more authentic. "I wish they wouldn't put down the wooden ...

outdoors - Google News

Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource