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We are in our rainy season here in Tanzania. It runs from March to early June and this year, I am told, we are not getting as much rain as years before. That said, there is still an abundant of mosquitos... and where there are mosquitos, there are chances of malaria.
Our friends at The World Health Organization tells us that malaria is "
caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. In the human body, the parasites multiply in the liver, and then infect red blood cells. Symptoms of malaria include fever, headache, and vomiting, and usually appear between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting the blood supply to vital organs. In many parts of the world, the parasites have developed resistance to a number of malaria medicines. Key interventions to control malaria include: prompt and effective treatment with artemisinin-based combination therapies; use of insecticidal nets by people at risk; and indoor residual spraying with insecticide to control the vector mosquitoes." Nice, huh?
I take my malaria pills every Friday morning. I was warned the
side effects of this medication are crazy dreams and sensitivity to the sun. Luckily, I get neither of them.
The mosquitos here are not like the ones at home. They are smaller and quiet. There is no buzzing in the pitch black of night as you are swatting in mid-air at a noise that is deafening. I am told just the female mosquito carries malaria and they are silent. I sleep with earplugs so they are all silent to me. Who knows if that is true? So many people have so many theories about everything here. As a result, many people will spray their bedrooms with "mosquito spray" an hour or so before going to bed in order to kill any unwanted visitors. I am not sure what would be worse, the ingredients in the spray or malaria itself. So far, I have done no spraying and I am surviving quite well.
The other item everyone needs is a mosquito net....
What is it with mosquito nets, anyways?
For many people, the idea of sleeping under a mosquito net is exotic, magical, and even romantic. I assure you, it's none of those. The brochures are leading
you astray when they show you a beautiful king-size bed with white linen that has a 450 thread count. Over the bed a pristine mosquito net is impeccably draped and outside the window (that is screenless so you can so you can commune with nature) elephants, zebras and giraffes are wandering freely. You can almost reach out and pet them from your bed.
The truth is mosquito nets, while essential, are inconvenient. They have a dingey grey look to them because your windows are open all the time and dust blows in freely. They must be washed on a regular basis which can be a problem because some are treated with a mosquito repelent that you should re-apply after every washing. No one knows where to buy the repellent.
A makeshift net "frame" is built for your bed out of 1" X 2" pieces of wood and they are haphazrdly attached to the head and footboards.
Every night before bed, you must walk around the circumferene to make sure the net is tucked in so that the mosquitos can get in while you are sleeping. You must make sure that the net isn't too taut; there must
be some fluidity to the net, allowing it to flow and be breezy. The reason for this is that when you sleep and you hand, foot, arm or leg rest against the nest, the mosquitos can sit there and take your blood through the net.... They don't show you that in the brochures, do they?
Climbing into bed every night takes you back to your childhood when you made a fort out of bedsheets. There is a cocooning feeling for about 10 seconds... and don't even get me started on the art of climbing out from under a net at 4AM when nature calls!
I have woken up on several mornings to find numerous bites on my hands and feet (must have been up against the net). This week, I had dreams that mosquitos were inside the net and having an" All-Night-All-You-Can-Eat" buffet. Needless to say, I tossed and turned all night while swatting away imaginery pests.
I have met many people who have contracted malaria. I know of one volunteer who decided that she wasn't going to take her medication and contracted malaria. She spent a few nights in the clinic. Things were so bad that they were thinking of sending her home when she got strong enough. She recovered and, surprisingly, she is taking the medication religiously. I don't wish it on anyone.
It's nice to know that the mosquitos aren't discerning. George Clooney apparently got malaria when he was shooting the movie,
Syriana.
I hear he was staying in a hotel that had room,s just like in the brochures.
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Jeff
non-member comment
A mid summers night dream.
Sounds like you might be having crazy malaria pill dreams after all!