Archive for June 2nd, 2009

2
Jun

2 Weeks and Counting – Disease Prevention

   Posted by: Chipman   in Malawi 2009

Well, I leave for Malawi in just under 2 weeks now. I finally got my malaria medication yesterday. Thankfully I don’t have to start taking it until the day before I leave. I’m also good to go on all the shots I need prior to departure. I will have to get one final Hepatitis shot in October though, but whatever. It’s amazing how much precaution must be taken before traveling to Africa. I guess I never realized disease was still so prevelant in 3rd world countires. It’s 2009 and people are still dying from diseases that have vaccinations! So sad, truly.

My list of shots/medication:

  • Hepatitis A & B: 2 shots with a 3rd in Oct.
  • Tetanus/Diphtheria
  • Yellow Fever
  • Typhiod
  • Malaria

What’s funny, at least to me, is that these aren’t even the scariest diseases. Check out this snail disease: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistosomiasis