Limpopo Malaria

[Capebuffalo]

I was in Limpopo in 2014 and again in 2021. Both times I was told it was Malaria free.

Not the whole Limpopo province has malaria. It is mostly in the northeastern corner, which include the Kruger Nat. Park. The central and northwestern parts, especially in the Waterberg area, are malaria free.

 

[MarkB]

I have had all vaccines and some that I or my doc has no idea what they were. Military, shut up and feel the prick??

On an ele hunt in Zim I was prescribed mefloquine by my doc, had many side effects that ended with my one and only full blown grand mall seizure. Good job after ele was done, imagine waking up with, shirt and belt undone, a sore tongue and having your PH say WTH.

I would never take or recommend to anyone ever again to take mefloquine. As others have stated, it changed my eyesight for life.

MB

 

[rblum]

We are heading to Limpopo in early June for 9 days and will spend a couple of days in Kruger as well. What are the chances of Malaria at that time of year? Do you take the meds or just risk it?
My outfitter said that some people have a worse reaction to the meds and he wouldn't take it.

I'm lost when it comes to this. I can't find any other vaccines needed for SA unless I am missing something.

I followed the advice of my doctor and the health department regarding malaria medicine. I suggest that you do the same. An outfitter is good at organizing a hunt and your doctor is good at looking out for your health…. I wouldn’t use an outfitter for medical advice.
Some people have been hurt while crossing a street, what would you do if someone told you not to cross streets as some people had been hurt?

 

[flying sailor]

I followed the advice of my doctor and the health department regarding malaria medicine. I suggest that you do the same. An outfitter is good at organizing a hunt and your doctor is good at looking out for your health…. I wouldn’t use an outfitter for medical advice.
Some people have been hurt while crossing a street, what would you do if someone told you not to cross streets as some people had been hurt?

Have a scrip for malarone. it appears the county is up on bad ju ju.

 

[375Fox]

Yeah don't take antibiotics as a preventative...they are losing their effectiveness seriously against all sorts of infections that they had no problem combating in the past...this is from over use in applications they were not made for using in....some infections are now totally or nearly so to the majority of current antibiotics....quite a few people are dying now simply because the antibiotics don't work

The recommended dose for doxycycline is only 100 mg/day for an adult. That’s supposedly sub-antibiotic level. I’m not sure how doxycycline actually protects against malaria but I’m unsure if antibiotic resistance and malaria prevention are connected, since antibiotics are typically for bacteria and malaria is caused by a parasite.

 

[375Fox]

I have had all vaccines and some that I or my doc has no idea what they were. Military, shut up and feel the prick??

On an ele hunt in Zim I was prescribed mefloquine by my doc, had many side effects that ended with my one and only full blown grand mall seizure. Good job after ele was done, imagine waking up with, shirt and belt undone, a sore tongue and having your PH say WTH.

I would never take or recommend to anyone ever again to take mefloquine. As others have stated, it changed my eyesight for life.

MB

How long after you finished taking Lariam did the symptoms start to diminish? I’m really surprised any doctor still prescribes it. Suicide has been a side effect in some individuals.

 

[MarkB]

How long after you finished taking Lariam did the symptoms start to diminish? I’m really surprised any doctor still prescribes it. Suicide has been a side effect in some individuals.

I think a few days for some, I can remember the vision issues persisted for a very long time, even today its not as I was before. When home and military was informed I did get a 100% checkup by specialist, to include CAT scans and more. All were clear but it is on record.

I was prescribed same drug many times, when in South America and hot spots in World, we all joked about the dreams and less crazy side effects, never had any seizures then.

I DO NOT recommend anyone take that drug, there are other options.

MB

 

[spike.t]

The recommended dose for doxycycline is only 100 mg/day for an adult. That’s supposedly sub-antibiotic level. I’m not sure how doxycycline actually protects against malaria but I’m unsure if antibiotic resistance and malaria prevention are connected, since antibiotics are typically for bacteria and malaria is caused by a parasite.

Not saying its to do with malaria....its a massive general problem from overuse of antibiotics in general

 

[revturbo9967]

I just had a visit with a travel doc as my personal will not prescribe anything without a recommendation. They recommend malarone just due to its over all effectiveness and shorter time taking the med. She said that mefloquine is a terrible drug, but still exists due to it being the only one approved for pregnant women and malaria.

 

[spike.t]

Malaria cases in endemic provinces, Gauteng on the rise: NICD - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it is observing a significant increase in malaria cases in the endemic provinces and Gauteng.

www.sabcnews.com

 

[BLJC30]

Malaria cases in endemic provinces, Gauteng on the rise: NICD - SABC News - Breaking news, special reports, world, business, sport coverage of all South African current events. Africa's news leader.

National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it is observing a significant increase in malaria cases in the endemic provinces and Gauteng.

www.sabcnews.com

If I had any undecidedness then I don’t anymore!

 

[HookMeUpII]

The area surrounding Kruger requires malaria prophylaxis. Everywhere else should be fine. Just got back 3 days ago.

 

[HookMeUpII]

If I had any undecidedness then I don’t anymore!

Depends how close you are to Kruger. Listen, it's up to each individual to do what makes them comfortable and sleep better at night (albeit possibly with night terrors). I can tell you there's a margin of error baked into the maps. Right around Lephalale the CDC seems to think that non-medicinal prevention should be used from September - April. Meaning, bug spray/repellant. We just got back and I didn't see a single mosquito. There were ticks all over my kudu, annoying small flies, and one of those zebra flies that are nasty and hang on ostriches got my guide. My cousin saw 2-3 mosquitoes his last night there sitting by a watering hole. That was out of 6 days in the bush.