Avoiding Mosquito Vector Diseases: Zika, Malaria, Dengue, Yellow fever, West Nile, Ross River and others.

This will be the first of a few brief posts on keeping healthy while wandering strange lands. The current concern about the spread of the Zika virus was my trigger. I hope these simple ideas help somebody enjoy their travels without fear of being infected by one of the many terrible diseases transmitted via mosquitoes. 

I am not a doctor, just a traveller. If in doubt about anything I write discuss it with your doctor before acting.

While sitting in a doctor's office in shock after hearing the word "leukaemia" in early 2002 I was already making my bucket list. I had been brought up to live frugally and spend responsibly, always saving for a rainy day. I had put off my urge to travel the world but now I reckoned the rain was coming down in buckets. I started planning my first 'round the world trip at in that office.

I discovered swiftly I had a new problem apart from finances. I now had a flawed immune system. That meant world travel, exposing myself to foreign bugs and diseases, was rather unwise in the doctor's opinion. I decided that was a risk worth taking, but I also decided to use a bit of common sense.

After wandering through more than 50 countries since that day including regions with lots of mosquitoes such as South America, South East Asia, China, India, Egypt and Yucatan I have not caught anything worse than the occasional cold or Delhi Belly. I tend to believe my OCD methods for mosquito protection are a significant part of the reason for my good health.

On my earliest trips I asked my doctor to prescribe Malarone. Eventually I discontinued that medication because I am aware of the possible nasty side effects and, although effective for malaria, Malarone would not have helped against other mosquito vector diseases such as these:

• Yellow Fever
• Dengue Fever
• Ross River Virus
• West Nile Virus
• Zika
  

That is not an exhaustive list. There are many other mosquito vector diseases, some unique to certain countries.

For that reason I have developed some standard habits in regions where mosquitoes are a problem. These may seem over-the-top to some, but they have worked very effectively for me.

• After my morning shower I apply a light skin lotion as a base. Over that, if appropriate to the climate, I apply a sunblock. I finish with a light coating of 80% DEET to all exposed areas, including at least the face, back of the neck, ears, ankles and scalp. That strength of DEET is effective but can also cause skin problems. Applying the skin lotion first allows a more even spread of a thin layer and minimises the side effects.
• If necessary I repeat the lotion and DEET applications if I have been for a swim or have another shower later in the day.
• I wear a hat or cap (I am bald, with an excellent landing strip for unseen mosquitoes), long-sleeved shirts and long trousers at dawn and dusk, with as little skin left exposed as is reasonably possible. My clothing is lightweight in the tropics, but not so light that mosquitoes can drill through it.
• I make sure that there are no mosquitoes in the rooms I stay in and demand insect spray from the proprietors if necessary. I usually have it with me as insect spray is one of the first things I buy in a new country on arrival. 

That may seem like a lot of messing about, but it adds only five minutes to my morning routine and lets me wander mosquito regions with confidence. Of course, there are no guarantees. It only needs one mosquito to get through my defences to infect me but that is a risk I have accepted. You must make your own decisions.

Some practical points. Although some airlines allow aerosols on board these days I have found some do not. For that reason I use a DEET gel and buy it in tubes of less than 100gm to be sure I have no problems with airport security.  I use Bushman's 80% DEET but any equivalent would do the job. Similarly, if you prefer an aerosol it is better to buy a local insect aerosol on arrival in a country than to try to get one through airport security. 

I have also found it wise to look for air-conditioned rooms in tropical countries, not just for the comfort of a cool night's sleep, but because many hostels and hotels in those regions do not have fly screens on the windows. Leaving the window open for night breezes in a room without air-conditioning also provides access for mosquitoes while you sleep.

Enjoy your travels in good health.

Cheers, Alan. 

Travel Safely: Food and Drinks.

These are habits and practices I have developed over the years as I wander the world as a senior with interesting blood.

I am a wanderer, not a doctor. Some of my ideas may not be suitable for you; select those which suit you and ignore those which don't. 

Water

Your body is used to your local water and your local bugs. I rarely stay in a country long enough to let my body acclimatise to its different bugs so I do not drink the local water. That does not just apply in the third world. I did not get Delhi Belly in India or Montezuma's Curse in Mexico but I did suffer from it in Cairo, Hong Kong, Peru and Texas.

I keep it simple. I buy bottled water with an unbroken seal. That has been available everywhere I have been in fifty countries and has never let me down. Some people use water filters. I do not. That is partly because they can be awkward to carry and use, but mainly because I can never be sure they are removing all the local bugs. Only if bottled water is not available in a remote area would I take a filter.

For fresh drinking water I only let bottled water pass my lips; that includes brushing my teeth and keeping my mouth shut in the shower.

Alcohol

I enjoy trying local beers and wines as I travel but I take care not to get drunk. It isn't worth the risk to me; not just to my health but also for security. It is too easy to become a sucker or a victim when judgement is impaired by alcohol. 

As long as I observe that precaution I have never had health problems from drinking local brews or vintages; in fact beer is usually a good choice in tropical climates instead of the local water. I occasionally find local wines which would better serve as paint stripper but more often they are quite good.

I avoid ice in my mixed drinks or soft drinks unless I can be certain it is made from clean water.

As a lateral issue, before you open the water bottles in your hotel room double check whether they are complimentary. If there is a charge you will nearly always find a shop nearby selling water for a fraction of the hotel price.

Tea and coffee.

I do not avoid tea and coffee brewed from the local water. I presume the water has been boiled long enough to kill any bugs. So far that policy has worked for me.

Vegetables and Meats

I avoid fresh washed salad vegetables when travelling in places with questionable water. The water the vegetables are washed in may be more dangerous than the dirt washed off. I stick to well-cooked vegetables unless I washed the salad thoroughly myself with bottled water. On the rare occasions I decide to break that rule I try a small experimental portion at dinner and don't repeat it until I find my internal plumbing is in good working order the following morning.

When choosing cooked foods I always make sure soups and stews are well cooked and my meats are always well done. I like medium rare at home, but do not risk it when I'm overseas.

I often eat in the restaurants chosen by the locals rather than those intended for tourists but I use some common sense when doing so, looking at the general hygiene and cleanliness of the place before I order. I accept different standards in the third world.  Only once have I regretted a local choice. 

In every one of the four cases of traveller's curse I suffered I was able to identify the cause. Each time it was from carelessness with foods, usually salads or fruit. My rule for fruit these days is to only eat fruit I peeled myself.

When Mistakes Occur

I carry prescription Norfloxacin with me. It is a strong medication with possible side effects and should only be used if prescribed by your doctor. For me it is a magic pill when the traveller's curse appears. One pill is usually enough. On one occasion (Nasca, Peru) I took two but I would never exceed that dose. Discuss that with your doctor before your travels. 

Cheers, Alan

Health and Safety While Travelling

This is an index page for several posts on health, security and associated subjects.

• Travel Safely: Food and Drinks.
• Travelling on a Diet 
• Avoiding Mosquito Vector Diseases: Zika, Malaria, Dengue, Yellow fever, West Nile, Ross River and others.

Cheers, Alan