WARNING: to all travelling to BATAM/BINTAN/RIAU ISLANDS

[daredevil123]

Do take care when traveling to batam/bintan/riau islands area.... 4 of our friends were just diagnosed with the deadliest form of Malaria (Plasmodium Falciparum) and was clinging on to their life in ICU since this Monday. 3 of them got better and has been transferred to normal wards. Their malaria count is almost zero, but there's already damage to the liver and kidney, so they need time to recover in hospital. One remains in ICU. Apparently all 4 of them have been visiting fishing villages/ kelongs in the region.

Please take care and take necessary precaution and malaria pills if you are visiting these areas.

Please note that malaria symptoms will only start showing 10-30 days after infection. So if you find you exhibit some symptoms around 10-30 days after a trip to a rural area, you should seek medical help and get tested for malaria.

Remember:
- For malaria pills, start taking a week before the trip to be effective.
- Take a tab every week you are there on the trip.
- And after the trip, continue taking one tab every week for 4 weeks.
- Those with G6PD have to take a capsule every day of doxycyline while away.

- Advice quoted from a CSer/photo-enthusiast/Medical Doctor

 

[ricohflex]

Thanks for warning. Even if cured of malaria, the damage to liver and kidneys may have become a long term health problem.

We in Singapore have a choice not to go to Batam/Bintan/Riau Islands until problem is solved.

But what about the Indonesian population staying there? They do not have a choice.

 

[Kakugoro]

Those folks have natural immunized from this disease.

 

[Kakugoro]

thanks for this very, very important and informative information.. We should have a "IMPORTANT WARNING" thread so that any member who come across such "incident" could inform and warm us of the dangers.. Thanks again.

 

[daredevil123]

Thanks for warning. Even if cured of malaria, the damage to liver and kidneys may have become a long term health problem.

We in Singapore have a choice not to go to Batam/Bintan/Riau Islands until problem is solved.

But what about the Indonesian population staying there? They do not have a choice.

The damage to liver and kidney is recoverable. But hospitalization for one to two weeks is required.

Malaria is not a problem that is localized to one area. One can still get it in malaysia, cambodia, thailand, vietnam, etc, anywhere in SEA.

So do take the necessary precautions when visiting or staying in places with a lot of exposure to mosquitoes.

Travel safe everyone.

 

[daredevil123]

Those folks have natural immunized from this disease.

Yes. I quote from the article linked in the first post:

Humans living in areas where malaria is common can become partially immune. Travelers, young children, women having their first or second pregnancy and those who are weakened by other diseases (such as AIDS) have little to no immunity against malaria.

 

[daredevil123]

Please note that malaria symptoms will only start showing 10-30 days after infection. So if you find you exhibit some symptoms around 10-30 days after a trip to a rural area, you should see medical help and get tested for malaria.

 

[Dfive]

The damage to liver and kidney is recoverable. But hospitalization for one to two weeks is required.

Malaria is not a problem that is localized to one area. One can still get it in malaysia, cambodia, thailand, vietnam, etc, anywhere in SEA.

So do take the necessary precautions when visiting or staying in places with a lot of exposure to mosquitoes.

Travel safe everyone.

Not to mention the $8K medical bill if you need 2 weeks...... !

 

[Dfive]

Do take care when traveling to batam/bintan/riau islands area.... 4 of our friends were just diagnosed with the deadliest form of Malaria (Plasmodium Falciparum) and was clinging on to their life in ICU since this Monday. 3 of them got better and has been transferred to normal wards. Their malaria count is almost zero, but there's already damage to the liver and kidney, so they need time to recover in hospital. One remains in ICU. Apparently all 4 of them have been visiting fishing villages/ kelongs in the region.

Please take care and take necessary precaution and malaria pills if you are visiting these areas.

Please note that malaria symptoms will only start showing 10-30 days after infection. So if you find you exhibit some symptoms around 10-30 days after a trip to a rural area, you should seek medical help and get tested for malaria.

Remember:
- For malaria pills, start taking a week before the trip to be effective.
- Take a tab every week you are there on the trip.
- And after the trip, continue taking one tab every week for 4 weeks.
- Those with G6PD have to take a capsule every day of doxycyline while away.

- Advice quoted from a CSer/photo-enthusiast/Medical Doctor

Please see this .PDF and consult the CDC USA Site for more info :

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/resources/pdf/travelers.pdf

 

[NikF601]

Hope your last friend in ICU can recover soon and transfer to normal ward...