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Posted: 8/6/2011 12:18:13 PM EST
My fiancee is a FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.

Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.

Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.

And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.

But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.

They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.


Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:20:01 PM EST
[#1]
Note to self : Another excuse I can use the next time the sammich making unit mentions that she wants to visit Africa.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:21:00 PM EST
[#2]
What line of work is she in?  Oil related?
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:21:09 PM EST
[#3]
Not all of Africa is malarial.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:22:23 PM EST
[#4]




Quoted:

My fiancee is FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.



Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.



Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.



And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.



But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.



They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.









What's FA?



Thanks.



Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:22:33 PM EST
[#5]
Could explain why those trips to Namibia is so cheap.....

A commuter van driver I know that I used to ride to work with , contracted Malaria along with his wife while down in Costa Rica.....

It doesn't have to happen just in Africa.

He took all the precautions and still contracted.

You know malaria is forever right?
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:23:45 PM EST
[#6]
Quoted:

Quoted:
My fiancee is FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.

Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.

Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.

And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.

But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.

They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.




What's FA?

Thanks.


"Flight Attendant."
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:24:51 PM EST
[#7]
Didn't take the big pink pills did they?
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:24:56 PM EST
[#8]
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:31:59 PM EST
[#9]
My father contracted malaria in North Africa during WW2. Many times I would wake up in the night with house hotter than hell. He would be standing in front ot the wall heater wrapped in all the blanketes he could find and still shivering violently.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:35:14 PM EST
[#10]
Dude, my airline has a few African destinations.....and people do get sick!

One captain died a few years ago.....shortly after he returned from one of those lay-overs. No official connection was ever made, but we all thought it.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:38:24 PM EST
[#11]
Quoted:
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.

From what I've heard, you have to start getting injections, and taking pills, long before you go.

(I have friends who've gone on safari. They had to start preparing long before they went.)

Can't do that if you're a flight attendant. Sometimes, you can get a trip dumped in your lap with 3 hours notice.


Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:42:16 PM EST
[#12]







Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:



My fiancee is FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.
Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.
Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.
And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.
But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.
They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.

What's FA?
Thanks.




"Flight Attendant."







You made it extra confusing by not including the "a"
In the business, we would say "my gf is a FA"  
The way you wrote it, makes it sound like special ops or LE.  As in:  "My fiancee is LE"  
I don't know why there is a difference.   It's a quirk of the English language.  
 
 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:45:26 PM EST
[#13]
Eh I got Malaria in the PI. Malarial prophylactics aren't 100%.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:45:48 PM EST
[#14]



Quoted:



Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.


From what I've heard, you have to start getting injections, and taking pills, long before you go.



(I have friends who've gone on safari. They had to start preparing long before they went.)



Can't do that if you're a flight attendant. Sometimes, you can get a trip dumped in your lap with 3 hours notice.







You are right, but there is always mosquito spray and netting.





 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:48:25 PM EST
[#15]
I've been to Africa and Central America a number of times and always take a prophylactic for malaria. The downsides are that it is customary to start 2 weeks before you go, and there may be side effect. The side effects are mostly minor for me; things such as bad/weird dreams and, after a recent trip, dizzy spells.

If you have the time, you should check with the travel bureau to see which prescription to get for the area you are going.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:49:44 PM EST
[#16]
I loaded up on Lariam before I went and that stuff is a wild ride.
What was really fun was when they fumigated the plane when we landed in London.
With all of us still inside it.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:50:44 PM EST
[#17]



Quoted:



Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.


From what I've heard, you have to start getting injections, and taking pills, long before you go.



(I have friends who've gone on safari. They had to start preparing long before they went.)



Can't do that if you're a flight attendant. Sometimes, you can get a trip dumped in your lap with 3 hours notice.





Permanone like a motherfucker.  It's better than nothing.





 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:51:12 PM EST
[#18]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
My fiancee is FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.

Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.

Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.

And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.

But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.

They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.




What's FA?

Thanks.


"Flight Attendant."

You made it extra confusing by not including the "a"

*Nope. Wrong. An "A" would have sufficed. Sorry.*  

The way you wrote it, makes it sound like special ops or LE.  As in:  "My fiancee is LE"  

I don't know why there is a difference.   It's a quirk of the English language.  

   

Actually, I should have said "an FA."

I will edit my post.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:53:57 PM EST
[#19]
Quoted:
Could explain why those trips to Namibia is so cheap.....

A commuter van driver I know that I used to ride to work with , contracted Malaria along with his wife while down in Costa Rica.....

It doesn't have to happen just in Africa.

He took all the precautions and still contracted.

You know malaria is forever right?


Most of Namibia is too dry for mosquitoes for most of the year.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:54:02 PM EST
[#20]
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


Yet all of it is a shit hole. Radical Islam, Malaria, highest AIDS rate in the world, war lords, genocide, deadly animals. I don't know why anybody would ever want to visit that God forsaken place.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:54:47 PM EST
[#21]
Its a big world out there

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:56:02 PM EST
[#22]
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


Correct, some have Ebola Zaire.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 12:59:25 PM EST
[#23]
Quoted:
Didn't take the big pink pills did they?


I'm taking those pills right now in Monrovia.  One of the side affects is that I have to weigh down the bedsheets at night to keep them from blowing off the bed.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:05:58 PM EST
[#24]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


Correct, some have Ebola Zaire.


You're apparently an expert on Africa and tropical medicine.

I go yearly. I've never had malaria. I always take a prophylactic med. For the past ~6 years that's been doxycycline. It's worked just fine. For the other stuff–– typhoid, hepatitis, etc. there are vaccines. They have also worked fine.

OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:17:08 PM EST
[#25]
Quoted:
OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)

Probably not. Should she have been taking those pills, every day, just on the off chance that she'd be sent to Africa?

Can you stay on the regimen... for life... just in case?

I'm not a doctor. I don't know.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:18:52 PM EST
[#26]



Quoted:


Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.





 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:19:41 PM EST
[#27]



Quoted:



Quoted:


Quoted:

Not all of Africa is malarial.




Correct, some have Ebola Zaire.




You're apparently an expert on Africa and tropical medicine.



I go yearly. I've never had malaria. I always take a prophylactic med. For the past ~6 years that's been doxycycline. It's worked just fine. For the other stuff–– typhoid, hepatitis, etc. there are vaccines. They have also worked fine.



OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)
But nothing is 100% I'm living proof of that.



 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:20:32 PM EST
[#28]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


Yet all of it is a shit hole. Radical Islam, Malaria, highest AIDS rate in the world, war lords, genocide, deadly animals. I don't know why anybody would ever want to visit that God forsaken place.


It's a big place.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:23:21 PM EST
[#29]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.

 

Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, for your whole career, just on the off chance that you could be sent to Afrcia?
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:25:29 PM EST
[#30]
Lots of herp and derp.

Malaria is preventable.


Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:26:04 PM EST
[#31]
Quoted:
Lots of herp and derp.

Malaria is preventable.



See my post above.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:26:48 PM EST
[#32]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.



 


Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?



I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.

 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:27:04 PM EST
[#33]
Quoted:
Quoted:
OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)

Probably not. Should she have been taking those pills, every day, just on the off chance that she'd be sent to Africa?

Can you stay on the regimen... for life... just in case?

I'm not a doctor. I don't know.



It depends on where she was and for how long. For a visit of a few weeks or less to an area with endemic (always around) or epidemic (currently popping-up) malaria, the answer is yes. African malaria is often falciparum malaria (cuased by Plasmodium falciparum) and can be very severe in an immune-naive person. Some places are not supposed to have malaria due to weather, altitude, etc., but some of these places still end up with seasonal or epidemic malaria under the right conditions.

The dosing is different for the different meds. Doxycycline and Malarone are once daily tablets. Lariam is a once weekly tablet. You wouldn't want to take any of these drugs long-term. Bed nets treated with insecticides, screened windows, etc. also help prevent contracting malaria. The folks I know who live in Africa don't use any sort of meds, but they also live in places with decent mosquito control, properly built houses, etc.

Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:28:00 PM EST
[#34]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.

 

Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?

I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  

And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:28:10 PM EST
[#35]
Go visit Cape Town and the surrounding winelands.  Nice place, no malaria.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:31:25 PM EST
[#36]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:


Quoted:




Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.



 


Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?



I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  


And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?



You start on the outbound flight or that's what happened  to me in 86 when I augmented on short notice. Better than nothing but imperfect at best.

 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:36:18 PM EST
[#37]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


Correct, some have Ebola Zaire.


You're apparently an expert on Africa and tropical medicine.

I go yearly. I've never had malaria. I always take a prophylactic med. For the past ~6 years that's been doxycycline. It's worked just fine. For the other stuff–– typhoid, hepatitis, etc. there are vaccines. They have also worked fine.

OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)
But nothing is 100% I'm living proof of that.
 


Jarhead, do you remember what med you were on? I'd bet they gave you chloroquine, which is cheap but no longer effective in many places. None of the drugs, to my knowledge, are 100% effective, but the newer ones and doxycycline are pretty darn good.  

Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:38:19 PM EST
[#38]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.

 

Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?

I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  

And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?

You start on the outbound flight or that's what happened  to me in 86 when I augmented on short notice. Better than nothing but imperfect at best.  



Ah... That does explain it, though. Of the meds for malaria prophylaxis, I think only doxycycline is effective in preventing malaria within 24 hrs of taking it. Malarone calls for dosing one or two weeks prior, and so does mefloquine. Not sure about chloroquine, but if they were treating you guys 1 month prior and then several weeks to a month after returning, that med wouldn't have given immediate protection.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:39:15 PM EST
[#39]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:


Quoted:


Quoted:

Not all of Africa is malarial.




Correct, some have Ebola Zaire.




You're apparently an expert on Africa and tropical medicine.



I go yearly. I've never had malaria. I always take a prophylactic med. For the past ~6 years that's been doxycycline. It's worked just fine. For the other stuff–– typhoid, hepatitis, etc. there are vaccines. They have also worked fine.



OP, was your wife's friend taking medication to prevent malaria? (Malarone (atavaquone + proguanil), Lariam (mefloquine), doxycycline, etc.)
But nothing is 100% I'm living proof of that.

 




Jarhead, do you remember what med you were on? I'd bet they gave you chloroquine, which is cheap but no longer effective in many places. None of the drugs, to my knowledge, are 100% effective, but the newer ones and doxycycline are pretty darn good.  





Sounds right, but it was whatever Doc passed out, time frame 1988.

 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:40:18 PM EST
[#40]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:


Quoted:




Quoted:


Quoted:




Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.



 


Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?



I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  


And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?



You start on the outbound flight or that's what happened  to me in 86 when I augmented on short notice. Better than nothing but imperfect at best.  






Ah... That does explain it, though. Of the meds for malaria prophylaxis, I think only doxycycline is effective in preventing malaria within 24 hrs of taking it. Malarone calls for dosing one or two weeks prior, and so does mefloquine. Not sure about chloroquine, but if they were treating you guys 1 month prior and then several weeks to a month after returning, that med wouldn't have given immediate protection.
No I was good on that trip two years later after a full schedule prior to deployment I got knocked on my ass.





 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:44:26 PM EST
[#41]



Quoted:



Quoted:




Quoted:


Quoted:




Quoted:

Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.



 


Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?



I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  


And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?



The preventative meds are probably not going to be effective. But, you can stay indoors, wear hats, long sleeves and long pants, sleep in netting, use bug spray and don't go out at night.





 
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:45:35 PM EST
[#42]
I have a now elderly neighbor who about 25 years ago was working overseas on offshore oil rigs, and transferred to a rig off the west coast of Africa, where he contracted malaria, plasmodium valcifirum,  He wound up in ICU for a few weeks as it damn near killed him.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:49:29 PM EST
[#43]
Quoted:
Go visit Cape Town and the surrounding winelands.  Nice place, no malaria.


Most of South Africa is free of malaria, except when you get close to Zim.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:50:27 PM EST
[#44]
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
Been to sub Saharan Africa many times, never caught malaria or dengue fever. They easily preventable from being contracted. It is the travelers fault for not taking these precautions.
This man speaks the truth. Malaria is easily preventable.

 

Just asking... can you be on a anti-malarial regimen, for years, just on the off chance that you could be sent there?

I don't know. I do know every time I was deploying to a malarial region I went on a pro schedule about a month prior to deployment  on it while in the country.  

And what if you could be sent to a "malarial region" on three hours notice? What then?

You start on the outbound flight or that's what happened  to me in 86 when I augmented on short notice. Better than nothing but imperfect at best.  



Ah... That does explain it, though. Of the meds for malaria prophylaxis, I think only doxycycline is effective in preventing malaria within 24 hrs of taking it. Malarone calls for dosing one or two weeks prior, and so does mefloquine. Not sure about chloroquine, but if they were treating you guys 1 month prior and then several weeks to a month after returning, that med wouldn't have given immediate protection.
No I was good on that trip two years later after a full schedule prior to deployment I got knocked on my ass.

 



My parasitology text, circa 1996, lists chloroquine resistance worldwide except, I think, parts of Central and South America. Even then, though, CQ resistance was being seen in those places. I just checked the literature and it looks like CQ resistance is now found in essentially all populations of malaria.

CQ is an interesting case for over-medicating or inappropriate use of medications. Here's an abstract for an opinion letter asking whether CQ resistance was spurred-on by the addition of chloroquine to salt in places fighting malaria:

With acknowledged difficulties in achieving satisfactory compliance rates for the large-scale delivery of many antiporositic drugs, the use of medicated salt has often been seen as a useful way to improve the level o f treatment in target populations. Iodinated salt is said to have contributed to a decline in endemic goitre, and salt medicated with chloroquine and/or other antimalorials, or with diethylcarbomazine, has been widely used in public health programmes against malaria and filariosis respectively. In this article, however, David Payne suggests that chloroquinized salt programmes may have been a major factor in promoting chloroquine resistance in Plasmodium falciparum.


Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:51:53 PM EST
[#45]
What? They didn't take malaria pills with them? That stuff prevents malaria.



Gives ya fucked up dreams, but at least you don't get malaria.

Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:54:11 PM EST
[#46]
We had a bunch of guys get Malaria in Liberia in 2003.  Many weren't taking their meds, but there were some who were (like our IDC Chief).  We were on mefloquine first, and then after the first cases they put everyone on doxy.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 1:55:44 PM EST
[#47]
Quoted:
Quoted:

Quoted:
My fiancee is FA. Well, she just found out that yet another of her coworkers has contracted malaria after an Africa trip.

Only this time, it's an old friend. She's more than a little upset.

Yet another reason why I've told her that she is never to go to Africa.

And, trust me, I'm not "that type of guy." I don't ever tell her to do, or not do, anything.

But, in this case, I have a foot, and I've put it down.

They don't pay her enough to take that kind of risk, AFAIC.




What's FA?

Thanks.


"Flight Attendant."

I thought her branch was FA at first.

Link Posted: 8/6/2011 2:59:35 PM EST
[#48]
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


True, but all of Africa is Africa related.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 4:04:05 PM EST
[#49]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


True, but all of Africa is Africa related.

Fuck, all Africa is... Africa. Anyone want to split a time-share in down town Nairobi?

Didn't think so.
Link Posted: 8/6/2011 4:11:57 PM EST
[#50]
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Not all of Africa is malarial.


True, but all of Africa is Africa related.

Fuck, all Africa is... Africa. Anyone want to split a time-share in down town Nairobi?

Didn't think so.



I guess it's popular around here to hate Africa. Seems like everyone does.

I don't hate Africa, and I'm ok with Nairobi. I don't spend much time there–– just enough to fly in, stay a night, and get on the road towards someplace else.

Speak for yourself if you like, but don't presume to speak for me.

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