Malaria, Kruger National Park

First things first about malaria. Don't go on holiday to Kruger with the fear of God in you. Malaria is preventable in most cases, and if you catch malaria, it is treatable as long as you see a doctor as soon as symptoms develop.
So, take all the usual precautions, take some malaria pills and remember, the people most at risk of dying from malaria seem to be very young children.
For UK visitors. According to the NHS, about 1,500 travellers return to the UK with malaria every year, so it's worth taking precautions. (See website below for advice).
Need I say more. All the other posts here will have all the advice you need.
Have a good trip and don't let those dastardly little blighters bite you out of enjoying your holiday.

Malaria tablets are essential when travelling in this area. Please consult your doctor or chemist a few weeks prior to your trip, so that you can start taking them in the required dosage.

A doctor is mostly available in the KNP in case of an emergency. Your guide is also trained in first aid. KNP shops stock many off the shelf medicines and other essentials too. Even though they are likely to have these in the shop, I would bring headache tablets, Rennies etc along with me too just in case they don?t have what you need. Being asthmatic, I have to be extra careful re what medication I use, even an over-the-counter cough syrup can have dangerous side effects. So I err on the side of caution.

I have had it twice and it is not fun...! If you are traveling in this region take precautions towards Malaria. If you do not take medication in prevention and you have the following symptoms after your return go straight to your doctor and tell him you were in a Malaria region: Flue like symptoms, combined with headache, backache and fever. Remember malaria kills almost a Million people each year and the longer you wait the more the parasite will multiply in your blood – the result is fatal!

The most important and most effective way of preventing malaria is firstly to prevent mosquito bites. The following preventative measures can be taken:

Remain indoors from dusk to dawn if possible as malaria mosquitoes usually feed in the early evenings and mornings -- not quite handy when all safaris at those times!
Anyway, cover your arms and legs towards evenings with light coloured clothing to cover exposed skin areas and especially the ankles. Wear long sleeved shirts, long trousers, socks and closed shoes.

* Apply insect repellents to exposed skin areas every 4-6 hours.

* Burn insecticide coils or electrically heated insecticide tablets in the bedroom at night.

* Spray knock-down insecticide for flying insects inside the bedroom in the early evening with windows/doors closed if there are no window screens.

* Screened mosquito proof windows and doors and mosquito nets guard against mosquito bites.

* Clothes and nets impregnated with Pyrethroid could be used.

Another way of preventing malaria is to take additional preventative drugs when visiting an endemic malaria area, especially in the warm and rainy months from October to May.

The preventative medication of choice for visitors to the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas is a combination of CHLOROQUIN and PALUDRINE.

Chloroquin is taken on a weekly basis and Paludrine daily.

The first dose of Chloroquine should be taken a week before entering a malaria area to see if there are no serious side effects. Paludrine can be taken 2 days before entering the malaria area.

It is important to continue to take the medication during your stay AND FOR FOUR WEEKS after leaving the malaria area.

It is advisable to take the medication at night with food to reduce side effects like nausea.

If the Chloroquine/Paludrine combination cannot be used, DOXYCYCLINE on a once daily basis can be taken after meals as a preventative drug.

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The rest of the story -with photos- is in my travelogue

Visit your health care provider 4-6 weeks before foreign travel for any necessary vaccinations and a prescription for an antimalarial drug.
Take your antimalarial drug exactly on schedule without missing doses.
Prevent mosquito and other insect bites. Use DEET insect repellent on exposed skin and flying insect spray in the room where you sleep.
Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts, especially from dusk to dawn. This is the time when mosquitoes that spread malaria bite.
Sleep under a mosquito bednet that has been dipped in permethrin insecticide if you are not living in screened or air-conditioned housing.

Recommendations for health - Ensure that you are given the anti-malarial medication specifically for the Kruger area. Wear long sleeved shirts and trousers after dusk as this is when the mozzies will bite!
Get vaccinated!!
Take a medication pack with sterile needles, IV set and suture kit
Take something to stop diarrhoea, a rehydrant, some broad spec. antibiotics, and if you are on any medication DON'T forget to take that
Sun cream
Warm clothes for cold nights

As in most cases of travel to Africa, malaria is something you have to prepare for. Especially in the bush. Talk to you doctor and get your pills.

THE KRUGER PARK IS IN THE MALARIA INFECTED AREA ONE MUST TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECATIONS .....................