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Posts Tagged ‘malaria’

Deadly virus transmitted by mosquito bites was attacking Western Australia. It is reported that The cure for virus are not available yet.

 

Western Australian Health Department says that at least six people have been diagnosed with the Murray Valley encephalitis  virus (MVE). This is a virus that can cause serious brain inflammation. The warning alert was issued to anyone who will travel to the north of Perth or east.

 

“MVE activity is rare but potentially fatal. Another Virus, Kunjin virus have been detected in the Goldfields, Kimberley, Pilbara, Gascoyne, central  and Midwest Wheatbelt region, indicating widespread virus activity,” stated Sue Harrington, a medical entomologist, as reported by smh.com.au, Friday (20/05/2011).

 

Harrington explained, Murray Valley encephalitis virus and Kunjin virus carried by mosquitoes. Risks that occur when infected will become unhealthy or could be severe, so people should take reasonable measures to avoid mosquito bites. “MVE initial symptoms are headache, fever, drowsiness,  nausea and dizziness, stiff neck,” said Harrington.

 

In severe cases, continued Harrington, the patient may be in a coma, suffered permanent brain damage and died. “In children, fever might be just the first symptoms, so parents should find medical help, especially if the child also experience sleepiness, irritability and did not want to eat,” said Harrington.

 

Kunjin virus usually causes a milder disease than MVE, but can cause headaches, neck stiffness, fever and delirium. “There is no specific treatment or vaccines for diseases that are transmitted by mosquitoes, so it is important for care to prevent being bitten by mosquitoes,” said Harrington.

 

According to Harrington, controlling mosquitoes in most rural areas of Western Australia is not possible because of their large size and inaccessibility of natural mosquito breeding habitat.

 

“It’s important for people to prevent mosquito bites by avoiding going out at night, using  mosquito nets and wear protective clothing outside with long sleeves,” Harrington closed.

Listen to your health nurse advice

there are some cause why your health counselor suggest you to bring malaria tablets. here are some of them
the country that you visit is a living place for malaria mosquito.
you are traveling when malaria risk is increasing.

there are several kind of tablets that protect you from malaria. it is very importan to use the right one. because some kind of tablet ussualy only works for certain area. your doctor also know which tablet will interact well with other drugs that you maybe use. for children, your doctor can also sugest the right tablets and dose. in most malaria danger country, local pharmacy ussualy prepare the suitable tablets. locate the nearest pharmacy from the palace you are staying. prepare also your doctor prescription.

you should prepare your preventive medicine at least 3 weeks before your departure.

Malaria protection: summary of action to be taken

For best result, you should taking your tablet at least 3 weeks before your travel. but it also depend on which anti-malaria that you use. before you use the table, you should read carefully the instruction of usage and use it exacly as it state. don’t take it before you read the instruction until finish. if you decide to travel less than 3 week before depart, contact your doctor as soon as possible. although a bit late, it still worth until your last minute.

in conclution, always cantact your doctor before you travel to malaria danger area. ask them for the suitable tablet for your malaria protection. inform them about your current medication treatment. read your tablet instruction to the end and use it exacly as written in the instruction.

What is malaria and how serious can it be?

Malaria caused by mosquito bite that bring malaria parasite to your body. Every year, around 1750 traveller come to England bring malaria virus in their body. in several case, malaria can be deadly. unfortunately there are no vaccination for malaria yet. in exchange you can use a tablet  called prphylaxis to protect you from malaria for certain amount of time. this table ussualy work for certain area only. so you need to use the right tablet for area that you visit. most England travellers who catch malaria ussualy don’t use the right tablets for the right area, or do not take table at all.

malaria mostly found in tropical areas. They are  asia, large parts of africa,  haiti and the Dominican republic, Central and south america, some pacific ocean islands, and parts of the middle and far east.

Some people think that they have malaria immunity. they are people who come from area with malaria, and now live in UK. they also feel that their children have malaria imunity also. unfortunately this is not true. even if you have immunity to malaria, this immunity will soon vanish once you leave where malaria mosquito live. their children which born outside the area will not have immunity at all.

Malaria symptoms?

somtimes malaria symptoms misundestood as common flu. but it not often also that malaria turn into a deadly coma. here are some malaria symptoms:
body temprature increase more that 38°C
feel tired
feel cold while sweating
pain in the muscle
headache

Severe symptoms:
withing 24 hour after the first symptoms, the life threatening ussualy appear.

What to do if you are worried that you’ve got malaria

if you feel some sign of malaria, you should seek medical attention immediately. this should be done while you traveling and 1 year after your return. don’t panic with the sign. malaria can be identify by blood test and can be healed with drugs. for those who travel more than 24 hour away from medical site, are highly suggested to bring malaria self-treatment kits.