European Alliance Against Malaria

On March 4, 2012, in Uncategorized, by admin

Welcome to The European Alliance against Malaria, a non political and not for profit organisation dedicated to the eradication of Malaria.  We are a network of like minded groups who work together to promote and support activities that assist in the campaign against Malaria.  Malaria is one of the biggest killers in the developing world which is why it is essential groups and organisations work together in this fight.  Bringing together the various stakeholders and organisations involved in the Malaria fight is the best way to ensure resources are used in the most effective way to combat Malaria.

 

 

 

Malaria is caused by a parasite known as Plasmodium which is spread by mosquitoes and infects humans when the parasite carrying mosquito bites into their body.  Once the person is bitten the parasite enters the bloodstream and travels to the liver where it develops before re-entering the bloodstream and attacking red blood cells.  The parasites grow and multiply in the red blood cells.  Every 48-72 hours the red blood cells burst spreading the parasites even further and causing a bout of fever and chills.  There are many different types of Plasmodium parasites but only five cause malaria in Humans.  These are:

Plasmodium falciparum – This is the most deadly of all of the Plasmodium parasites and is responsible for most Malaria deaths.  It is found mostly in Africa.

Plasmodium Ovale - Quite uncommon parasite found in west Africa.  Can stay hidden in your body for years before symptoms show.

Plasmodium Vivax – Not as severe as Plasmodium falciparum.  Found mostly in Asia and Latin America.

Plasmodium Knowlesi - Very rare.   Found in Southeast Asia.

Plasmodium Malariae – Quite rare.  Found in Africa.

 

Along with causing death Malaria can lead to severe anaemia and cerebal Malaria which can cause comas.  The world Malaria report states that in 2010 there were 216 million cases of Malaria worldwide with an estimated 655,000 deaths.  Unfortunately most deaths are among children with a child dying of Malaria every 30 seconds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Avoid Malaria, be informed

On October 2, 2012, in Uncategorized, by admin

So, you are a traveler and you wish to experience not only travel barcelona or travel Paris, but also other countries and ways of life and we understand that. You should be able to go everywhere you want and need to, just you should stay healthy. In order to avoid diseases as scary as malaria, you need to be informed and stay on the alert. The first thing that you should know about malaria is that this is an infectious disease that could be found in almost a hundred countries around the globe. People can catch this disease if being bitten by a mosquito that carries the parasite with it. This mosquito is quite severe in the darker hours of the day after sunset and before sunrise and the bad news is that you can be bitten just once and it still be enough to get malaria.

 

In general, malaria disease can be of four variants and they are all quite serious but one of them is really deadly and this is the alciparum malaria. After the mosquito bite, the malaria parasite enters the blood and with the blood stream reaches the liver. There, the parasite can become active immediately or live for as long as one year before being active. So, what should you do in order to prevent malaria when travelling to exotic countries? There are certain precautions that are quite simple, but should be taken when you decide to travel an area that is known for malaria cases. The first thing to start with is to be aware of the malaria threat and to follow antimalarial regime. You should try to stay away from mosquitos and cover your body to avoid the bites. If you feel any of the malaria symptoms, you should see a doctor immediately. The symptoms of malaria to look for are similar to those of the flu: high temperature, chills and sweats, muscle pains and headache, diarrhea and coughing. The disease can result in problems with the kidneys and with liver, inability to breathe, hallucinations, etc.

 

To prevent a case of malaria, the traveler should be prepared well if going to a country where this disease is common. If possible, the traveler should avoid the places with highest concentration of malaria deaths. A visit to the doctor and getting some advices against malaria are also required. So are the malaria pills that have to be taken according to the prescription before the trip itself. There is also a repellent against insects called Deet that could also be applied. While in an area with risk of malaria, the traveler should cover one’s skin and stay indoors from dusk until dawn. One should also stay in rooms that have protective nets. The traveler should take the pills against malaria and use the insect repellent even after a sun protection cream is being applied. Once the trip has ended, the traveler should still be on the alert for the malaria symptoms enumerated above. Remember that they can become active in a period of twelve months after the trip. If the traveler is informed and keeps in mind the possibility of getting this disease, then everything will be just fine, you will be back in your normal way of life in your holiday apartment and the malaria disease will be avoided.

 

If you are travelling to a Malaria stricken area you need to be prepared.  Whether you are a tourist or going to work or volunteer in a Malaria infected area if you fail to be properly prepared you are setting yourself up for extreme danger.  Some of the most high risk areas for Malaria include:

Central and South America

Large parts of Africa and Asia

Parts of the Middle East

Dominican Republic and Haiti

Some Pacific Islands like Papua New Guinea

If you are going to any Malaria Hot spots like the above then you need to make the following preparations.

When you arrive in a Malaria stricken area the first thing to do is to avoid getting bitten in the first place.  Do this by:

Stay indoors with effective screening on doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes coming in.

Sleep under a mosquito net that  has been treated with insecticide.

Use insect repellent on your skin.

Wear long sleeved trousers and shirts to cover your skin, you can find suitable clothing at a suitable online shopping site to help save you costs.

If you are travelling to South America you should ensure you go to a carnival to really get a feel for how the locals live.  Make sure though before going to the carnival you buy a suitable fancy dress outfit to wear to the carnival.

Before you actually travel make sure you have taken a course of anti malaria tablets and continue to take them when you arrive home afterwards to cover the incubation period of the disease.  If you get ill when you come back from travelling make sure you see your doctor straight away and inform them of every country you have traveled to in the last 12 months.   Make sure that your travel insurance is up to date before you travel, you can find details of travel insurance providers on the internet.

 

 

Traveling to Spanish speaking countries such as Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, and Uruguay has become very popular over the years. A lot of people like traveling to these countries because of their beauty, along with their many cultural differences as well. A lot of people do not realize that if they are traveling to Spanish speaking countries, they need to be extremely careful because many of these countries have malaria. Malaria is a disease that is carried by mosquitoes and passed on to humans and animals. It can often result to coma or in some cases even death. This is one of the many reasons why it is crucial, if you are going to travel to one of these countries, to learn some Spanish before you go.

Learning Spanish has become increasingly popular and is even more popular among those individuals who wish to travel to countries where Spanish is natively spoken. Learning Spanish does not have to be a rough challenge because there are ways to learn Spanish online for free and at your own pace. When you take online Spanish lessons, you can choose from a number of free lessons, starting with the very basics of the Spanish language. You can work your way up to the more advanced lessons. When you learn Spanish online, you can learn in the comfort of your own home, at your own time, and your very own pace. You do not have to worry about keeping up with a very fast teacher and falling behind in your class. Learning Spanish online means your lessons are available to you at all times and you can even repeat lessons whenever you need to.

It is very wise to know at least the basics of the Spanish language before traveling to a Spanish speaking country. If a traveler becomes infected with malaria, or some other deadly disease, not knowing the language can result in the person not receiving the proper medical care that they need in order to survive. It is very important to consider learning Spanish before you take your travels. When you learn Spanish online, it can be the very thing that saves your life. There are so many benefits to learning the Spanish language. Learning Spanish online can be free of charge and there are numerous websites and lessons to choose from so you can find the very best one that works for you.

Learning Spanish can be very important and beneficial for you, especially if you plan on traveling to a Spanish speaking country in the future.

Not long ago I made the decision to learn Spanish, preceded by the desire to buy a holiday home abroad.  My original choice was the Arabic Language, in particular Egypt, but for many reason, health being a major concern, I finally chose to learn Spanish.
Both Arabic and Spanish are 2 of the most frequently used languages in the world but Spanish is so very much easier.  We took holidays in Mexico and the Dominican Republic and so on but I seemed to get bitten by mosquitos constantly.  Although we weren’t supposed to be in areas known for Malaria, it was a constant worry.  Even without the concern of malaria it was not pleasant trying to keep the mosquitoes under control.
So when it came to choosing a holiday home we finally opted for Tenerife.  Malaria and mosquitoes aside, it seemed an easy choice – so decision made – I am Learning Spanish in Tenerife.  The idea of learning Spanish in Spain was appealing but the weather didn’t quite come up to our expectations.  Sure it seems rather boring  in the Canaries and very ‘British’ so you don’t REALLY need to learn the language.  However, once outside the main tourist areas, you will find much of the old Tenerife, even in the South where many residents speak only Spanish.  Flights can be cheap if you look so overall the right choice I think.  So when you make your decision where to Learn Spanish, have a good look places in Tenerife where tourists can’t be bothered going to.  You never know, we might bump into one another in our quest to learn Spanish.
On the other hand, you could visit my blog, Los Abrigos – Learning Spanish in Tenerife, it’s new but here you will find info on free accommodation in a place that’s definitely free of Malaria – the sea breeze somehow keeps the mozzies at bay. Soon I’ll be putting together some ideas for friends, new and old, to pay a nominal some of money for their learning so they can holiday in South Tenerife while they soak up the Canarian way of life and learn the Spanish language at the same time.
Also up and running, with no mention of malaria at all Smile, is a new resource for Spanish Lessons in Europe, a great site with interactive lesson from academic text books, free Skype lessons from Spanish-speaking tutors living in countries like Guatemala and Ecuador.  It’s possible to holiday in these areas for immersion style lessons but again, these countries are not free of malaria.  On the other hand Tenerife is so why not track me down for a free holiday and learn Spanish for real