Malaria isn't History

Time to Crow ^

[Chanticleer]

Malaria isn’t history. According to the World Health Organization(WHO), malaria kills more than one million people each year. More than 40% of the world’s population is at risk, in areas such as Africa, Central America, Hispaniola, India, the Middle East, Oceania, South America, and Southeast Asia. Children and pregnant women are most at risk. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that malaria is the fourth leading cause of death for children under five years of age worldwide. A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.

[Chanticleer]

I used to think the malaria was history. We talked about it when we learned about the building of the Panama Canal in school. I knew my father had it during WWII. But I didn't realize how prevalent it was today. Thought I'd share.

[Chanticleer]

A friendly ping.

[what_not2007]

Thank you for posting this! I had no idea.

We are really very comfortable (and fortunate) in this country, aren’t we?

[Chanticleer]

We are. Malaria kills more children under five years old worldwide than measles and HIV/AIDS combined.

Malaria rarely occurs in the U.S., and it's usually attributed to people who have traveled to other countries. There is some indication that there may have been some local transmission, though, which is scary.

Multifocal Autochthonous Transmission of Malaria --- Florida, 2003

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

Thanks for the ping...so I have to switch to Gin and Tonic for the quinine in the tonic...

Note to self, sell burbon stock!!

[Chanticleer]

Saw your post about the vaccine. Thought you might be interested.

[Chanticleer]

Good plan!

[RockinRight]

I didn’t realize malaria was still such a force. Good article.

[Chanticleer]

If you haven't already, click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the article where it reads "seven jumbo jets". It takes you to a sobering video, and the voice at the end is Alan Rickman.

[Tatze]

Malaria was almost history until the leftist envro-whackos got DDT banned. Common sense on this issue is slow to come around, but it is turning.

[Ancient Drive]

Jimmah Carte’s Malayse?

[SoldierMedic]

Malaria is still alive and well, and in Africa it is especially deadly. This isn’t so much due to the malaria itself, but a vicious cycle between Malaria and AIDS

When a patient contracts Malaria, they often become enemic, requiring a transfusion, which is a very good way to get AIDS in Africa. The people get innoculations against Malaria, but those needles sometimes are not cleaned and infect many people with HIV.

The Patient with HIV who contracts Malaria is even worse. Due to the weakened immune system as a result of the Malaria, the HIV replicates much faster than otherwise, making the progression from HIV to AIDS much faster.

[SoldierMedic]

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/12/07/malaria-hiv.html

[Chanticleer]

I never thought of that connection. Very scary. I know that my father was told never to give blood because he had malaria.

[CholeraJoe]

Actually Gin and tonic was invented to be a tropical cure-all. Tonic for malaria, lime for scurvy and gin for boredom.

[Chanticleer]

Thanks for the link, and many thanks for what you do.

Commendation by Secretary Forrestal

My father is very proud of the commendation the Hospital Corps received for their efforts during WWII. I'm sure the same could be said about Medics.

[SoldierMedic]

No problem. Thanks for that the link to that commendation. I had seen it before, but didn’t know anything much about it.

[allmendream]

When I was stationed in Peru for the USAF I took quinine pills as a prophylactic against contracting malaria. They tell you to not take it on an empty stomach. But what they need to do is TELL YOU NOT TO TAKE IT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. Some things they tell you that because if you don’t you get a bit of a tummy ache, other things (like quinine) you get a toxic response.

Malaria is so prevalent and so pervasive in human history that where malaria is endemic there are correspondingly high rates of the sickle cell anemia allele for hemoglobin. Being heterozygous for this allele confers resistance to contracting malaria, thus it persists in the population despite homo zygotes being anemic.

[Shyla]

I like your blog Chanti.

You are very talented.

[Bender2]

The only way to do away with Malaria is to kill off all those female Anopheles mosquitoes that spread the disease with DDT, and we all know, the Lib Tree Huggers will never allow that!

I say we rid ourselves... of both all the female Anopheles mosquitoes and all those Democratic beeaches and sumbeeaches that place a damn dangerous insect above human life!

[Chanticleer]

Hi, Tatze! Thanks for stopping by!

I think the LLINs use a pyrethrin-type insecticide, but I'm not sure. I read that the insecticide is bound up in the fibers of the net, so that it lasts for 4-5 years, but it is still safe to be used over children.

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

What a wonderful medicine.

[Chanticleer]

Hiya, Bender.

I think they've given up on eradication in many parts of the world in favor of control. I don't know if it's because of pesticide bans, lack of perserverence with preventive measures, (elimination of standing water, etc.), or simply that mosquitoes are so prolific. A bit of all three, I imagine.

My dad said they used to get dusted with DDT on Guadalcanal. He's 83 now. Guess it didn't kill him.

It's a shame that a disease that is both preventable and treatable (the medicine to treat malaria is comparitively cheap) that so many children die every year.

[Chanticleer]

Ouch! Sounds like you learned the hard way.

[Chanticleer]

Thanks.

[allmendream]

It was a lot more than a tummy ache I can tell you that! I felt like a mule had kicked me in the balls, the stomach and then the head. The world was swimming, I was sweating, and moving made me nauseous. DO NOT TAKE QUININE ON AN EMPTY STOMACH. And I listen to Dr.’s or pill bottles when they tell me that also, because they don’t tell you if it is because of the possibility of an upset stomach, or the possibility of a toxic response because you absorb the dose too fast.

[Chanticleer]

Holy cow! That sounds worse than malaria.

[allmendream]

Malaria is incurable. It only took my liver a few hours to get me out of the toxic concentration range of quinine (but a few very miserable hours). But I sure was weary of taking my pills after that! I did (after a two day break) but only on a FULL stomach.

[Chanticleer]

True. My dad had 8-10 bouts of it after the initial infection. He hasn’t had one in my lifetime. I asked him what it felt like. He said it felt like a bad fever — he’d feel hot then cold, cold sweats, aches, etc. Of course, he’s probably forgotten a lot of the pain after fifty years or so.

[SeaHawkFan]

Nothing the prudent use of DDT wouldn’t help. Even the World Health Organizarion wants it to be used.

[Chanticleer]

Let's hope it helps a lot -- fast.

OUR CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT A BAN OF DDT FOR MALARIA CONTROL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL!

[neverdem]

Thanks for the ping.

[Allegra]

I was issued malaria pills the first time I came over here in early '04 and was told they were optional. There has not been a malaria case reported in Iraq in over 30 years, so I decided not to take them. I heard they had some weird side effects.

They sure do have some aggressive 'skeeters here, though and they just LOVE me!

[XeniaSt]

I used to think the malaria was history. We talked about it when we learned about the building of the Panama Canal in school. I knew my father had it during WWII. But I didn't realize how prevalent it was today. Thought I'd share.

It was until the "watermelons" banned DDT.

[Bender2]

Re: They sure do have some aggressive 'skeeters here, though and they just LOVE me!

Hell, Tigress! Everyone I know... is in love with you?

[Allegra]

[Bender2]

Hey, the truth shall set you free... And maybe get my T-72 delivered!

BTW wonder what the So Cal fires are going to do about your Texicans playing the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium Sunday?

[Chanticleer]

They have lifted the ban for vector control.

OUR CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT A BAN OF DDT FOR MALARIA CONTROL HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL!

I don't know that you can blame the ban on DDT for the failure to eradicate malaria, although it certainly has played a part. From the CDC...

The emergence of drug resistance, widespread resistance to available insecticides, wars and massive population movements, difficulties in obtaining sustained funding from donor countries, and lack of community participation made the long-term maintenance of the effort untenable. Completion of the eradication campaign was eventually abandoned to one of control.

The strategy now is to control the mosquitoes, use the LLINs to prevent exposure, and administer antimalarial drugs to the most vulnerable. They've been working to perfect a vaccine for over 50 years. I read that they expect to have an effective one by 2010.

In the meantime, the nets offer a lot of protection for $5.

[XeniaSt]

Only if you are under the net.

[Chanticleer]

Statistics show that they're effective. The CDC and WHO support their effectiveness. From Against Malaria...

20 nets = 1 child's life

Statistically, 20 long-lasting insecticide treated nets installed = one child’s life saved.

This is because the impact on mortality rates of bednet use is one life saved per 160 bednet years.

Each long-lasting insecticide treated net is effective for 4 years and on average 2 children sleep under each net.

Therefore 20 nets x the 4 year life of each net x 2 children under each net = 160 bednet years... = 1 life saved.

Each LLIN costs US$5. That’s $100 a life.

[XeniaSt]

I know the facts.

I support Samaritans Purse

shalom b'shem Yah'shua

[Chanticleer]

I do, too, as well as Compassion International.

[new cruelty]

a friendly bump!

[Chanticleer]

Hello, Friend!