Avoiding Malaria

In the weeks before my trip to Cambodia, I gave a great deal of thought to malaria. 

 

A photograph of the Anopheles mosquito

Malaria is an amazing disease.  Unlike most diseases, malaria is not caused by bacteria or viruses.  Mosquitoes transmit a parasite called Plasmodium to people through bites.  Dozens of different mosquito species can transmit Plasmodium, but mosquitoes in the Anopheles genus are the most often blamed.  The parasites can breed, which means that they are continually biologically adapting and more difficult to control.

Malaria itself has been around as long as humans have lived on the planet, and different types of malaria can infect a variety of mammals and birds.  As a world historian, I have read stories about how malaria outbreaks in ancient Rome were a constant scourge and how European colonialism in Africa was shaped by the disease.

Malaria may be the single leading cause of death for all of world history.  Even today malaria may be responsible for up to 2% of all worldwide deaths.  I have known several people who have suffered from malaria including my father, who contracted the disease while returning from the Korean War.  Fortunately, malaria prevention is one of the top goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In a typical year malaria should not be a grave concern in Cambodia during December and January.  It is after all the dry season.  Without stagnant pools of standing water, mosquitoes cannot breed.  Without mosquitoes, malaria cannot spread. 

2011 has not been a typical year, however.  Record flooding hit all of Southeast Asia in August and much of the country was under water.  Here is an article on the impact of the flooding.  With the floods come standing water, with the standing water comes mosquitoes, and with the mosquitoes comes malaria.  On this trip, therefore, I am taking precautions to avoid malaria.

First, I am going to wear long trousers and long sleeve shirts.  Second, I am bringing insect repellant with plenty of DEET.  I am not messing around with the environmentally friendly natural repellants that I typically use in Florida.  Finally, I am taking a prescription anti-malarial medicine.  Mrs. Czubak, the mother of my World History student Lauren, filled my prescription at the local Walgreens.  Unfortunately, the Plasmodium parasites in western Cambodia have become resistant to some anti-malarial drugs.  I am taking the somewhat more exotic and certainly more expensive option.

 

I hope that this will not be happening to me!