Malaria Medication Next Week in Limpopo - Take or Not

[UpNorthMI]

My son and I are traveling for a hunt, trying to decide if I really should take my malaria medicine, it seems we are just out of the area map that I could find for malaria and I also seemed to find information that we are at the end of the risky season.

looking for more experienced input, should I just play it safe and take it Or can I skip it?

 

[WAB]

I’ve been to Africa dozens of times. I skipped malarial meds once. Ended up coming down with a raging case of what becomes encephalitic malaria if untreated. It was not a good experience. Take the meds.

 

[aminkus]

i have hunted in the Limpopo 4 times and have never been asked or told i needed any medication for malaria

 

[Ryan]

Ask your outfitter. They are far more likely to get it living there than you just visiting. If they worry about it, take it. If not, don't. I was in the Limpopo region in 21 around Louis Trichardt area. Zero worries. But it's a big region.

 

[saswart]

Depends on where in Limpopo you are going to hunt? Most of Limpopo has no malaria risk. The areas that have Malaria risk are far North East of Limpopo adjacent to KNP. Further it is now winter in SA so mosquitos are less active now.

 

[IvW]

Malaria - map of South Africa

Map of South Africa with malaria risk areas This image shows a map with the countries of South Africa. Regions with a low risk of malaria are marked in light pink, regions with a moderate risk are marked in orange, regions with a high risk are marked in r

www.wanda.be

This may be of help for you. May is still high risk time.
I got falciparum malaria ended up in icu for 7 days it was touch and go and not an experience I would want to repeat. Another fellow who had the same at the same time as me did not make it....he was dead on day 4.....

If you are going to any area on the map indicating malaria I would take the meds.

I normally take doxycycline as it has no side effects and is also good for tick bite fever.

 

[russ473]

Depends on what area you are going to in Limpopo, some areas might be close enough to malaria area to warrant taking the meds as a precautionary measure if you say what area or who the outfitter is we can help/ suggest if its needed.

 

[shark_za]

I have not heard of cases in Limpopo unless you are right up by Crooks Corner in Kruger.
If you are hunting in the more common western Limpopo, dont bother.

 

[WAB]

Ask your outfitter. They are far more likely to get it living there than you just visiting. If they worry about it, take it. If not, don't. I was in the Limpopo region in 21 around Louis Trichardt area. Zero worries. But it's a big region.

This is not correct. Locals build a certain level of acquired immunity, and when they do contract it, it tends not to be as severe. The infectious disease doc that treated me said that the only folks who tried to die on him with malaria were ex residents who went back to Africa for a visit. Having lost their immunity (happens relatively quickly) they got hit really hard when infected.

 

[Mopani]

Louis Trichardt was my hometown for several years, Malaria wasn‘t an issue at all. Once I was guiding (I’m a registered nature guide) at Kruger National Park. One morning one of the client’s upper body was glaring red full of pustules. Luckily we were staying at Skukuza where a clinic is located. I took the poor man to the doctors. The visitor suffered from side effects (malaria prophylaxis)!

He had to stop the medication right away.

Doctors said Kruger is quite safe, one should just avoid from being bitten. They handed the malaria flyer to me.

 

[Philip Glass]

My son and I are traveling for a hunt, trying to decide if I really should take my malaria medicine, it seems we are just out of the area map that I could find for malaria and I also seemed to find information that we are at the end of the risky season.

looking for more experienced input, should I just play it safe and take it Or can I skip it?

It is a very personal decision between you and your dr.
I now weigh the risk and decide whereas I've taken prophalyxix each time I was in an endemic area (Lariam for me). I spray ALL clothes with Sawyer and keep Avon Skin So Soft Bug Guard handy. The guys in Zim have a product called Coartin (sp?) that is a few day course if you get malaria symptoms.
Just my thoughts.
Have a great safari!

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

This is June is trip 6 for me and never taken Malaria meds, but we will be in the red zone this trip in Limpopo for about 6 days. I will take the Doxy, my Dr prescribed as best for me. Better to be safe than sorry. If you are hunting in the red zone take it is my thoughts. My PH recommended I take.

 

[Red Leg]

I would take one. With thirty years in the military and two decades hunting internationally, I always take a malaria prophylaxis. I have never had an issue with either of the two most popular drugs, and in several deployments to very red zones was never aware of one of my soldiers having an issue. Most of us, if going to Africa, are of an age where a first bout with malaria will not only be unpleasant, but could well be fatal. I think it is foolhardy to chance something so easily prevented with proven medications.

 

[UpNorthMI]

Thanks for all the input, we are out of the zone but also don't just want to take everything in life. We have treated all of our hunting clothing and will be using bug sprays and wipes. Final decision yet to be made.

 

[Manny R]

A lot of these PH's, Trackers etc have had Malaria and also have built up antibodies in their system.. If you have ANY concerns or medical conditions I would consult with your Medical doctor and discuss taking a Malaria Prophylaxis. As the old saying goes "An ounce of preventions is worth a pound of cure "

 

[wesheltonj]

$60 or $60k, take the pill. Not worth the risk, you can get Malaria anywhere. My uncle got Malaria during the Korean War, not in Korea but in Washington DC.

 

[Osama Mahdi]

I took the medication before and during my first Limpopo hunt.
I didn't take it during my second Limpopo hunt.
In both cases I never encounter with a mosquitoes . I had no problems.
It is personal choice indeed but I think taking the medication is better than not taking it.

 

[bakerb]

I took Malarone last year in Botswana, broke out in little red pustules within 2 days all over my arms. Stopped taking the meds and went on with the safari. I went back in July and on doctor's advice didn't take anything. I did have a prescription for Doxy and had the meds with me, but didn't take as a prophylactic. Only if I got fever or achy. My two PHs didn't seem all that worried about it. Maybe they were just playing cool to keep me cool. But they didn't seem all that worried.

 

[sgt_zim]

I'll be in Limpopo north and west of Jo'burg by about a 3.5 hour truck ride in August, right on the Limpopo river. I'm told by my outfitter that malaria isn't a concern there.

That said, P falciparum is no joke. It kills hundreds of thousands of people annually in malarial areas. It can cause hemolysis of up to about 40% of your RBCs in just a day or 3. You die of anoxia and/or organ failure (when the ruptured RBCs can't be cleared).

 

[SETH RINGER]

PROBABLY NOT THE SMARTEST THOUGHT PROCCESS BUT I TEND TO LEAN TOWARD THE SIDE OF I'M NOT TAKING ANYTHING UNLESS I REALLY HAVE TO.