I will be taking my youth group to the bayou of LA the end of this month. How big is the chance of contracting malaria due to the water and mosquitos???
2006-07-02 16:07:03 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
Well, malaria is not very likely since it has been isolated out of the area -- patients are removed to a hospital and do not spread the disease.
However, West Nile is still endemic in the South and that includes LA. Its symptoms are very much like malaria ("flu-like") and are treated with medicines that are similar. You should, no matter what other precautions, take mosquito repellants and encourage people to wear long-sleeves and long pants beginning at dusk each day.
If you are very worried about West Nile, ask a doctor about prophylactic medicines. There is no vaccine for malaria -- it is very difficult to form a vaccine against an adaptable parasite -- but there are prophylactic drugs to help prevent malaria. Ask a doctor about similar (or same maybe?) ones to help prevent West Nile. They may even be working on a vaccine for West Nile, as it's a virus and not a parasite, but they will test for years before it is on the market -- remember, West Nile is new to us here.
Talk to a doctor. Good luck!
2006-07-03 03:50:47 · answer #1 · answered by weilder 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been about 50 years since Malaria has been reported in La.
West Nile is the big threat. If someone gets it the symptoms are flu like and usually not deadly. Buy to the elderly and very young it can be deadly. I have worked outside in La. for 7 years and get bitten all of the time, you can't avoid it. I haven't died yet. Check out the below link and do some internet research. Oh, and get some Off with Deet!
2006-07-02 16:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by Lil D 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can't you get vaccinated for malaria? That may be a good idea to ease your mind. We do have a lot of monsterous mosquito's down here.
2006-07-02 16:12:20 · answer #3 · answered by jdc591 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It depends how many mosquitos there are, how much it has rained, and how many cases of malaria have shown up in LA.
2006-07-02 16:10:06 · answer #4 · answered by nikkigurl232004 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your chances are great. You absolutely MUST spray with insect spray. We're right next door in TX. and since the hurricanes, theres more of every kind of bug. Everyone is taking extra measures,such as dumping birdbaths, anything that could collect and hold rainwater. We are also seeing more snakes of all kinds. Those of us who grew up here have never seen so many before. The hurricanes brought many changes. The trees and plants are lush, and so are the insects!
2006-07-02 16:17:49 · answer #5 · answered by Scorpius59 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋