Africa -- 9 months post AVR

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Bradley White

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 22, 2006
Messages
178
Location
South Bend, IN
Hi All,

Just thought that I would share with you some news in my life and ask for any advice. I have found out that I am traveling to Cameroon for 6 weeks -- September 7th through October 20th. I do research on the genetics of the malaria mosquito -- Anopheles gambiae -- and am going to collect specimens with colleagues from France and Cameroon. We will be going collecting along a transect from the south to north, which will take us all the way from the rainforest in the south through mountains in the central to the dry savanna in the north. The diverse climate of Cameroon is responsible for it's nickname "Africa in miniature." Some of the terrain will be rather rugged and we will be camping for a good part of the trip since in many parts of the country there are no hotels.

I have gotten a list of all the vaccinations that I need and a prescription for Malarone -- an antimalarial. Do you guys think there is anything out of the ordinary I would need to bring or worry about because of my heart history? Nothing come to my mind, except to bring extra blood pressure medication and baby aspirin in case I lose some pills. Any advice on travelling in Africa would also be much appreciated whereas I have never been there before.

Very excited,

Brad
 
Wow - that sounds wonderful. I hope you have a really great time.

I would only be concerned about making sure you have plenty of your meds and perhaps a supply of antibiotics in case anything comes up that might cause a chance for endocarditis. I would also bring written prescriptions in case something happens to your pills.

Have fun and take lots of pictures.
 
Hi Gina,

Thanks for the advice.
Good idea anout the prescriptions Gina, although who knows how easy it will be to get them filled if something does happen to my pills. Also, I forgot that my doctor said he was going to write me a script for antibiotics and that I should take them with when I go in case anything happens like you said.

Thanks,
Brad
 
Bradley White said:
Hi All,

Just thought that I would share with you some news in my life and ask for any advice. I have found out that I am traveling to Cameroon for 6 weeks -- September 7th through October 20th. I do research on the genetics of the malaria mosquito -- Anopheles gambiae -- and am going to collect specimens with colleagues from France and Cameroon. We will be going collecting along a transect from the south to north, which will take us all the way from the rainforest in the south through mountains in the central to the dry savanna in the north. The diverse climate of Cameroon is responsible for it's nickname "Africa in miniature." Some of the terrain will be rather rugged and we will be camping for a good part of the trip since in many parts of the country there are no hotels.

I have gotten a list of all the vaccinations that I need and a prescription for Malarone -- an antimalarial. Do you guys think there is anything out of the ordinary I would need to bring or worry about because of my heart history? Nothing come to my mind, except to bring extra blood pressure medication and baby aspirin in case I lose some pills. Any advice on travelling in Africa would also be much appreciated whereas I have never been there before.

Very excited,

Brad
Click to expand...

Brad,
When will you get the vacinations? Sometimes you have to have so many that they can knock you for a loop--at least temporarily.
Our son had to have a bunch before he left for his job in the Middle East and he was pretty sick for a few days. I hope you get them far enough in advance that you have time to recuperate.
 
WOW!! Brad!!! What a fabulous trip this will be!! You must be completely excited!!!

I travelled to Tanzania in 1994 with a group of friends, with very knowledgeable guides and stayed in 3 national parks in 3 very top notch hotels. Your circumstances will be different, but here's what I remember worked well for us.

Your local large hospital will probably have an International facility where they dispense shots/vaccinations in a very up to the minute and orderly fashion. Use them. I had no trouble with any of the shots and I''m very sensitive to most things.

We were advised to bring along our own syringes (AIDS is still prevalent and not all hospitals/medical staff sterilize adequately). I thought this was silly, since I couldn't see myself in a semi-consicous state screaming..get my syringes out of my backpack!! But, you never know.

We used only bottled water. We were told not to drink any water, not even to swish our toothpaste. I forgot once but it didn't seem to be a problem. (then again, I spent the first 2 years of my life in Eritrea/Ethiopia so maybe I had some antibodies working in my favor)

DO NOT go swimming. There is a bacteria which affects the eyes and causes blindness if left untreated (there have been many stories about this). One of our fellow travellers went swimming in one of the hotel pools and contracted the bacteria. He was fine, since he got treated stateside by a doctor who fortunately asked the right questions (like 9 months later), but why risk it?

*An anti-diarreal medicine (Imodium as in the strongest kind) is a necessity.
*Antibiotics for stomach bacteria just in case.
*Maybe those little packets with alcohol swipes.
*Maybe some anti-bacterial gel.
*Bug repellent!! (we encountered Tse-Tse- flies at sunset in the Serengetti one evening....man! those buggers can bite!!!
*Cortisone cream for the bug bites. Or that sting-ese stuff.

Less necessary.....
*A cool khaki vest with a million pockets. We found one at Gap, REI must have them, or Orvis-type fly-fishing stores (I still have one in Large hanging in our closet if you'd like to borrow it :) )
*Filson makes a WONDERFUL waxed canvas hat with a brim that can be scrunched up but is completely water-repellent

I'm sure that this isn't the first time your travelling companions have taken this trip. Use them as your guide. Personally, I would not eat anything uncooked....at least not right away. Watch what they eat. Listen to what they are taking. Many of us somewhat squeemish about the night noises and bugs found it somehow comforting to sleep with long sleeves and socks on our feet and our hands. (we did have 3 nights in a tent, but they were majorly luxury tents.....still.....you are right there in the wild.....it's SO AMAZING!!!!!!)

Enough for now. If I think of anything else, I'll chime back in.

Just for fun, (and awwwww factor) here is a photo of me with my "nannie" in 1955. Shishai Woldenmichael

I am so excited for you!!!!! :D :D :D

Marguerite
 
Neat, Brad! I enjoyed the replies too.

I think everything I was going to suggest has been covered. I think those individually wrapped antibacterial wipes are super handy and I have some Deep Woods Off wipes that are individually wrapped also. I don't know if you'll be able to wash any of your own laundry but I always pack individually wrapped Woolite packs when I travel also. You need your passport of course and usually it's recommended to have copies of it with you also, and leave a copy with a reliable friend/family in the States too. Leave them a copy of whatever credit cards you'll be using on your travels also, front and back. Get international capability and/or clearance for your mobile phone.

You may also need to pack a towel and wash cloths and a few other basic things like that. If you wear contacts, it would be medically safer to just stick with glasses for the trip. Pack extra ziplock baggies also. Bring lots of film and/or digital chips and batteries. Flashlight. Waterproof matches. Leatherman. Probably all stuff you've already thought of.

Take a great book. I just reread Never Cry Wolf recently and loved it all over again; you may particularly appreciate it during your studies; Farley Mowat must be brilliant. Are you taking a laptop or handwritten travel journal? Both?

We lived and traveled in Cuba and Jamaica and Colombia when I was young and the preparatory shots took weeks to complete and some really hurt and others made us all very ill. Maybe they're not that difficult anymore; I don't know. I checked with my doctor before a recent international trip and he didn't recommend any shots for where we were traveling but he said that for some other places, including travel deep into Italy, he would recommend a Hepatitis shot.

Have a great and safe time! Take care!
 
We have a "steri pen" that uses UV light to sterilize water. It is relatively small and easy to pack.

Have fun. It sounds like a great opportunity.
 
briansmom said:
We have a "steri pen" that uses UV light to sterilize water. It is relatively small and easy to pack.

Have fun. It sounds like a great opportunity.
Click to expand...
Where can you find one of those, Deanne? Sounds neat.
 
Safe journey Brad...!

Safe journey Brad...!

And congratulations on your research. We look forward to your published works.

I've been to South Africa and Kenya and both times used the Avon Skin so Soft as an anti-bug thing and it worked -- course, after such a long time using the stuff, I can't stand the smell of it anymore. The anti-malarial meds made me feel so "funny" so I didn't take them. I did take along antibiotics, but didn't use them. I drank the water, ate with the Zulu's, swam in the water...so you never can tell.

As far as communications go, you can buy a cheap sim card for your cellphone in Cameroon and keep in touch as long as service is available.

My son lives/works nextdoor to Cameroon in Nigeria and Ghana so if you have any other concerns, just email me.

Also, my pic is a few years 'older' than Marguerite's, but here ya go...

EDIT: oops on the pic....file is too large
 
The australian goverment recomends taking a letter from your doctor explaining what medications your have with you and why you need them. Also dont have ice in your drinks and dont take photos of any police / military / government buildings ect it's illegal. Check with your bank to see if your credit cards work over there often ATM's wont accept foriegn cards. Lastly have a wonderful safe time ...Mary
 
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