The Travel Bug

News Note

By Darren Buford

Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring/Summer 2004.

According to a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, those bitten by mosquitoes in countries where malaria exists may develop symptoms of the disease weeks, or even months, after their return. Malaria’s ability to lie dormant for such an extended period of time has researchers admonishing about the importance of wearing protective clothing and using mosquito repellent with the ingredient DEET when visiting areas of the world with high concentrations of the disease, such as Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. If you experience any symptoms associated with malaria, such as fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting, contact your physician immediately.

For more information about this disease, visit www.malaria.org.