Malaria & other mosquito carried diseases:                    Back

Malaria is a parasite that is transmitted by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. It is not a problem on Bali but is in all other areas of Indonesia. Not really common, except in Irian Jaya (The Indonesian half Of New Guinea) The Anopheles mosquitoes usually bite between dusk and dawn.

It wouldn't hurt to put on a good insect repellent and in areas of known breakouts wear long paints, a long sleeved shirt, boots with socks & sleep under a mosquito net. This disease can be deadly so don't play around with it. Some symptoms, which can appear within 7 or 8 days or show up two or three months later, are: fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, malaise, sweating & shivering and in the later stages: anemia, kidney failure, coma & death.

It is treatable especially if caught early. So be alert to the symptoms. I would advise checking with your doctor before leaving for any part of Indonesia other then Bali. You can also check the world health organization web site on the Bali belly page for advisories.

The main drug prescribed for Malaria is Mefloquine check with your doctor before going to any area where Malaria is present.

Dengue Fever:

Dengue fever is another disease which is carried by mosquitoes and can be deadly if not treated early. It's known as (Breakbone fever) because of the extreme pain in the joints that is one of the symptoms. Others are a rash that starts on the body & spreads to the face & limbs and all of the symptoms of Malaria. There is no medicine for Dengue fever. You have to rest, take pain medication, etc. and this should be under the supervision of a doctor. It is not a very common disease, but again watch those mosquitoes.

Typhus

Typhus is spread by ticks, mites or lice. The most common type in Indonesia is scrub typhus and is spread by mites. Symptoms are: fever, chills, muscle pain & a headache. The area of the bite is usually a large painful sore and local lymph nodes are swollen and painful. The same precautions apply here as above. Watch out for those pesky little insects. This is a disease of long duration.