Info on Malaria in South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Malaria is a word many people associate with game parks in Africa.
However only one of the South African National Parks is in a malaria
risk area and that is the Kruger National Park, although even here the
risk is usually low. Historically there have been incidences of
malaria in other parks, but then there are recorded incidences of
malaria from urban Europe and other non-risk areas. But to all intents
and purposes Kruger is the only malaria risk park in South Africa's
National Park set-up.

The threat of malaria should not affect your decision to enjoy and
experience the Kruger Park, but is just something one should be aware
of and take precautions to be exposed to.

Anti-malaria prophylactics are thus recommended for visitors for
Kruger. The highest risk period is between December and April (end of
the rainy season). A 24-hour malaria hotline is available on +27 (0)
82 234 1800 to give detailed explanation on risk and advice on
precautionary measures. Visitors wishing to take prophylactics should
consult a knowledgeable medical practitioner or recognized travel
clinic about recommended medication, as certain products cause nausea,
hallucinations or other negative side effects with certain people.

Very often (particularly after periods of low rainfall) the malaria
risk in Kruger is very low. Many people decide not to take
prophylactics and rather try to avoid getting bitten. The most
vulnerable times are between dusk and dawn. People are advised to stay
indoors during these periods, or cover exposed skin with light
clothing or insect repellents. The ankles are the most critical area.
Burning anti-mosquito coils and ensuring netted screens are kept
closed are other preventative measures.

While malaria prophylactics are recommended, no prophylactic is
foolproof and any person developing flu-like symptoms 7 to 20 days (or
even longer) after being in malaria areas should be tested immediately
for malaria, until the symptoms clear or an alternative diagnosis is
made. It is important to advise medical practitioners that you have
been in a malaria area to avoid incorrect diagnosis.

On the question of prophylactics, no drug is guaranteed 100%
effective, but a combination of choroquin (taken weekly first one week
before) and paludrin (daily - first 2 days before) appears to be the
most recommended prophylactic. Mefloquin is a single alternative.
These would be available from pharmacies in Johannesburg and en route
to the park (and perhaps for sale at some of the larger rest camps in
the park). However as they should be taken a week in advance, if one
chooses to use them, buying them in SA would be leaving it late,
unless you will be spending time elsewhere in the country (most of
which is malaria free).

NB: Most types of mosquito do not carry the malaria plasmodium and if
one is bitten it does not mean one will contract malaria. Only
mosquitoes of the anopheles genus carry the plasmodium, and then only
if they have previously fed on an infected host. As the presence of
people with the plasmodium in their bloodstream in the park is greatly
reduced compared to past times, risk is once more reduced. One reason
for these reductions is that the accommodation units in the parks are
sprayed periodically throughout the year. Now that international
campaigns see treatment taking place in adjacent countries such as
Mozambique and Swaziland, malaria occurrence has been further reduced.

Hope this helps...

Kind Regards

Andrew Borsberry
Safari Rangers
http://www.safarirangers.com

So all that valuable information on malaria, its causes and prevention, not
relevant to visitors to malaria-risk areas of Asia?


"Thomas F. Unke" wrote in message
...
South Africa is in Asia now? Since when has it moved?

[spam deleted]

"Thomas F. Unke" wrote in message
...
South Africa is in Asia now? Since when has it moved?

[spam deleted]



"Linda Evans" wrote in message ...
So all that valuable information on malaria, its causes and prevention, not
relevant to visitors to malaria-risk areas of Asia?



Actually, not really. At least not much. It was not only specific for
Africa, but for Kruger NP. The malaria situation in SE Asia is
different. Different mosquito species, with different biting habits,
different habitats. Different levels of drug resistance and therefore
recommendations for malaria prophylaxis in Africa is not applicable to
SE Asia (and indeed, varies somewhat within SEA). Different risk of
infection dependent upon where/how one travels in SEA.
Different malaria (Plasmodium species).


It is actually very important that someone travelling to a malarious
area get info *specific for that area.*


For example -
1. bednets are much less useful in SEA for preventing malaria
transmission, because the mosquitoes which transmit it *tend* to bite
for the few hours around dusk. In most of Africa, the mosquito species
which transmit Plasmodium spp. *tend* to be *most active between the
hours of midnight and ~3am, so bednets are very useful. They do bite
earlier as well, but studies have shown 1-biting in these hours is
predominant, and 2-the use of bednets properly drastically reduces
transmission. The studies in SEA have reached different conclusions
(bednets may reduce bites, but not transmission, because those mozzies
are not the ones transmitting malaria).

2. Chloroquine resistance is *much* more widespread in SEA than Africa
at the moment and basically never recommended. Mefloquine is still
effective in some areas of SEA, but resistance is increasing and some
areas have such high resistance that prophylaxis is not recommended.
In Africa, there is still minimal resistance, and it is still
effective (tho not for long).

3. In Africa there is no Plasmodium vivax (one of the 4 species of
human malaria parasites), but in SEA it is a significant cause of
malaria.

4. Seasonal transmission patterns differ. There is more dry season
transmission in SEA than in Africa (tho this varies within Africa)

Perhaps the OP just got the wrong group?