Tag Archives: health

Birding At High Elevations & Altitude Sickness

Posted on by

I’m sure most people have heard of altitude sickness and probably associate it with mountain climbers.  We’ve all seen tv shows about people getting sick when trying to climb Mt Everest.  But one thing you may not know is that some birding hotspots are located at high elevations and birders do need to take precautions for altitude sickness when traveling to these spots.

List of Highest Large Cities in the World

List of Highest Cities in the World

If you check out some of these cities, you will notice a few that you may visit or transit while headed to birding hotspots.

SYMPTOMS OF ALTITUDE SICKNESS

Everyone handles altitude differently so you need to know at what point you will start feeling symptoms of altitude sickness such as:

  • Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting, excessive flatulation.
  • Fatigue or weakness headache with or without dizziness or lightheadedness, insomnia
  • Peripheral edema (swelling of hands, feet, and face)
  • Nose bleeding, shortness of breath upon exertion
  • Persistent rapid pulse
  • Pins and needles, general malaise

You should consult with a doctor about potential effects of altitude sickness and inquire about appropriate precautions.

From previous travels, I know that I get a bit lightheaded, lose my appetite and sometimes experience nausea or vomiting when I was in Lhasa & Cuzco.  Both cities are over 11,151 feet (3,399 m).  During our most recent trip to Colombia, I noticed fatigue and shortness of breath when we were in the Paramo.  My husband got especially woozy-enough so I felt we had to go back down a bit lower.  We had previously been to Quito at 9,350 feet (2,850 m)with no ill-effects, maybe just a bit of fatigue.  So now we have an idea that around 2800 meters is where we have to be extra careful.  I would actually prefer to avoid going above this elevation altogether, or at least not having Ina go that high since I was able to tolerate 3400 meters in the Paramo.

SOME ACTIONS BIRDERS MAY NEED TO TAKE

Avoid the higher elevations.  We plan to visit Bolivia in 2018 and most people fly into La Paz which is at 3640 metres with the airport even higher at 4150 metres.  We will avoid La Paz and fly into Santa Cruz.  We won’t be going higher than Cochabamba at 2570 metres.

Take medications.  The drug acetazolamide (trade name Diamox) may help some people making a rapid ascent to sleeping altitude above 2,700 metres (9,000 ft).  It requires a doctor’s prescription.

Ascend more slowly/Get back down to lower altitudes.  One example I came across was traveling from Cuzco to the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge.  The actual lodge is fairly low, under 2000 metres but you have to go over a pass that’s over 4000 metres enroute!  We would be doing this in a minibus and hopefully they take the pass slowly but at least we can descend by nightfall.

Just one more thing birders need to be aware of!

The Zika Virus – Should You Be Worried?

Posted on by

The Zika Virus has been getting a lot of press coverage lately and if you are headed to a country where it is found, you may be wondering if you should cancel your trip.  The CDC website has a comprehensive page about Zika, how to avoid it and who should be the most worried.  There is a special caution for pregnant women.  The map below shows where Zika has been reported.

Zika map

Transmission through mosquito bites

Zika virus is transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These are the same mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya viruses.

  • These mosquitoes typically lay eggs in and near standing water in things like buckets, bowls, animal dishes, flower pots and vases.  They are aggressive daytime biters, prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people.
  • Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on a person already infected with the virus. Infected mosquitoes can then spread the virus to other people through bites.

So in a nutshell, you want to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, especially in Zika affected areas but it’s a good practice no matter where you travel to as there are other diseases like malaria & dengue fever.

  • Wear long pants and long sleeved shirts, preferably treated with permethrin.
  • Apply mosquito repellent, preferably with a high DEET content.
  • Keep windows closed and sleep under a mosquito net if possible.  Using a fan will keep them at bay as they can’t fly through the breeze created.

We will be in 2 countries that have reported Zika – Ecuador & Colombia so you can be sure that we will step up the mosquito bite prevention!

Staying Hydrated While Birding

Posted on by

Here in Australia the weather is heating up which reminds me how important it is to stay hydrated when you are hiking through a national park looking for birds.  There are many different ways to carry water with you.  You may elect to buy one mineral water bottle and just keep refilling it if you are in a place where water is safe to drink.  Or you can get a product like this collapsible water bottle which has the added feature of collapsing down so you can carry it past airport security empty, then fill it up at a water fountain.

 

If you are birding somewhere that doesn’t have safe tap water, most eco-lodges will supply boiled water for you to refill bottle such as these or if you are camping then you can boil your own water.  Whatever you do, stay hydrated and stay safe!

For those who have the Chase Freedom card, don’t forget that you get 5x from Oct – Dec 2015 on Amazon.com!

Staying Safe & Healthy On Safari In South Africa – Videos

Posted on by
Reply

Sometimes it’s just hard to describe what it is really like in South Africa.  People hear all kinds of stories about getting robbed, charged by elephants and eaten by lions.  Fortunately, these things are extreme cases and can be avoided if you use common sense and take the necessary precautions.  Eco-tourists don’t want to be hanging around cities and tend to head straight for the game parks anyways but sometimes airline schedules can force an overnight stay in Johannesburg.  You also need to follow a few simple health precautions.  Most people will have safe and enjoyable visits to South Africa, here’s a few tips to help you do the same.

IS IT SAFE TO GO?

Government advisories are a good place to start when determining what dangers you need to avoid.  Here’s a list of the English speaking ones.  I do read them but I consider them to err on the side of caution so I like to get recent experiences from people who are actually traveling in South Africa on forums such as Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree.  I personally would never go out at night in any city but I am not a nightlife kind of person anyway.  Just use common sense, have your hotel point out where you can walk safely and where you can’t.  Keep your possessions locked in the the trunk of your car out of sight.  If you do get robbed, don’t argue, just give them what they want, but best to avoid putting yourself in a situation where you could be robbed.

Better yet, just get out of the city asap and get into the parks!

SAFETY ON SAFARI

SANPARKS has very strict rules and regulation to protect both you and the animals.  This video has no sound but it’s easy to understand.

 

WHAT NOT TO DO ON A SAFARI!

STAYING HEALTHY IN SOUTH AFRICA

The CDC has some great advice.

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.  You may need a yellow fever shot to show other border officials if you have any African stamps in your passport.  Malaria is present in some South African parks.  We didn’t encounter a lot of mosquitoes while we were there but we did have the mozzie spray on hand and we took Doxycycline for malaria protection.  Thankfully as of this writing, South Africa is free of Ebola.

Since I don’t shoot video, I’ll leave you with this video from a man on YouTube who shows what a typical day on safari is really like.

Should You Be Worried About Ebola?

Posted on by
Reply

We are going to Africa in the near future and my mother is in a panic.  She is convinced that we will get Ebola and die.  She is just one of many millions of people around the world who share the same fears.  So just how much of a threat is Ebola to tourists planning safaris in Africa?  This infographic from The Safari Company does a great job of explaining it.

ebola_infographic_631

.Ebola Infographic

I am not worried either of us will get Ebola.  To date, no tourists have been infected and there have been no cases in any African country other than Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone & Nigeria.  They’ve been doing a great job of containing it and keeping out of even the neighboring countries.

We wouldn’t be engaging in high-risk activities that involve exchange of bodily fluids.  We are in business class on the planes so will be seated only with each other.  We don’t plan on sticking around any city, we will be heading straight out into the bush for safaris.  We’re probably more at risk of Malaria than Ebola but we are taking Doxycycline for that.

I think there has been way too much hysteria fueled by the media.  Of course Ebola sells newspapers and promotes clicks on websites.  What I am more worried about is the hysteria driving ridiculous reactions such as this!

MORE EBOLA INFORMATION

The Latest on Ebola and Travel

Understanding the Risks of Ebola, and What ‘Direct Contact’ Means

Ebola Facts: How Many Ebola Cases Are Outside of West Africa?

 

 

New Dengue Vaccine Offers Some Protection

Posted on by
Reply

I wish they would have had this vaccine available before we went to West Papua!  My husband managed to get both dengue and malaria, took him about a week to get it out of his system.  Since many birders travel to exotic places where mosquitoes are rampant, this vaccine would be fantastic!  But always best to avoid being bitten in the first place.

Avoiding Mosquitoes And The Diseases They Transmit

Posted on by
4

Don’t be their next meal!

Mosquitoes are not only annoying, they can be dangerous to your health!  When we got back from Indonesia, my husband got really sick and had to be hospitialized with malaria for 5 days.  I was even more surprised to find out he also had dengue fever on top!  Thankfully he is fine now, the malaria was cured with proper treatment and the dengue went away in due course.  Oddly enough, I managed to get off practically scot-free with only a cold and a cough that lingered a few weeks and went away eventually.  Yesterday, another blogger, Stacy of Very Good Points reported getting dengue after a trip to Thailand.  For those who can see Australian TV, there was a segment on Today Tonight yesterday about mosquito-borne diseases in Australia.  In many cases, the victims tend to mistake these mosquito-borne diseases for the flu and only find out it’s something worse when they get tested by the doctor/hospital.  Dengue is also present in northern Queensland.

AVOIDING MOSQUITOES

The best thing to do is to avoid being bitten.  Here are some suggestions on how to do that.

  • Cover up with long, loose fitting clothing of sufficient thickness to prevent mosquitoes biting through the fabric. (This is what my husband did wrong, he insisted on wearing shorts and a singlet because West Papua is hot.  I covered up.)
  • Avoid exposure outdoors when mosquitoes are most active. (This one is hard to do if you are a birder as you pretty much have to be outdoors at dusk and dawn.)
  • Use an insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin (the most effective repellents contain 5-20% di-ethyl-N-toluamide or DEET) on exposed skin. Apply in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Avoid using on babies and toddlers.
  • Use flyscreens and mosquito nets in accommodation where there are no flyscreens, especially for babies. (This is particularly important when camping out, as repellents are only effective for around four hours.)

EXTRA PRECAUTIONS TO PREVENT MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES

Dengue – there are no vaccinations or pills you can take to prevent this.  The best thing to do is avoid being bitten.  For more information, see the CDC page on Dengue.

Malaria – Malaria in humans is caused by 1 of 4 protozoan species of the genus Plasmodium: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, or P. malariae.  My husband had the P.vivax one.  For more information, see the CDC page on Malaria.

There are several different pills you can take, and also follow the advice to avoid being bitten.  You will need different pills for different geographical regions depending on which strains of malaria are present so check on the CDC page to see which ones you will need.

Drug Reasons that might make you consider using this drug Reasons that might make you avoid using this drug
Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone)
  • Good for last-minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
  • Some people prefer to take a daily medicine
  • Good choice for shorter trips because you only have to take the medicine for 7 days after traveling rather than 4 weeks
  • Very well tolerated medicine – side effects uncommon
  • Pediatric tablets are available and may be more convenient
  • Cannot be used by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding a child less than 5 kg
  • Cannot be taken by people with severe renal impairment
  • Tends to be more expensive than some of the other options (especially for trips of long duration)
  • Some people (including children) would rather not take a medicine every day
Chloroquine
  • Some people would rather take medicine weekly
  • Good choice for long trips because it is taken only weekly
  • Some people are already taking hydroxychloroquine chronically for rheumatologic conditions. In those instances, they may not have to take an additional medicine
  • Can be used in all trimesters of pregnancy
  • Cannot be used in areas with chloroquine or mefloquine resistance
  • May exacerbate psoriasis
  • Some people would rather not take a weekly medication
  • For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
  • Not a good choice for last-minute travelers because drug needs to be started 1-2 weeks prior to travel
Doxycycline
  • Some people prefer to take a daily medicine
  • Good for last-minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
  • Tends to be the least expensive antimalarial
  • Some people are already taking doxycycline chronically for prevention of acne. In those instances, they do not have to take an additional medicine
  • Doxycycline also can prevent some additional infections (e.g., Rickettsiae and leptospirosis) and so it may be preferred by people planning to do lots of hiking, camping, and wading and swimming in fresh water
  • Cannot be used by pregnant women and children <8 years old
  • Some people would rather not take a medicine every day
  • For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
  • Women prone to getting vaginal yeast infections when taking antibiotics may prefer taking a different medicine
  • Persons planning on considerable sun exposure may want to avoid the increased risk of sun sensitivity
  • Some people are concerned about the potential of getting an upset stomach from doxycycline
Mefloquine
(Lariam)
  • Some people would rather take medicine weekly
  • Good choice for long trips because it is taken only weekly
  • Can be used during pregnancy
  • Cannot be used in areas with mefloquine resistance
  • Cannot be used in patients with certain psychiatric conditions
  • Cannot be used in patients with a seizure disorder
  • Not recommended for persons with cardiac conduction abnormalities
  • Not a good choice for last-minute travelers because drug needs to be started at least 2 weeks prior to travel
  • Some people would rather not take a weekly medication
  • For trips of short duration, some people would rather not take medication for 4 weeks after travel
Primaquine
  • It is the most effective medicine for preventing P. vivax and so it is a good choice for travel to places with > 90% P. vivax
  • Good choice for shorter trips because you only have to take the medicine for 7 days after traveling rather than 4 weeks
  • Good for last-minute travelers because the drug is started 1-2 days before traveling to an area where malaria transmission occurs
  • Some people prefer to take a daily medicine
  • Cannot be used in patients with glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
  • Cannot be used in patients who have not been tested for G6PD deficiency
  • There are costs and delays associated with getting a G6PD test done; however, it only has to be done once. Once a normal G6PD level is verified and documented, the test does not have to be repeated the next time primaquine is considered
  • Cannot be used by pregnant women
  • Cannot be used by women who are breastfeeding unless the infant has also been tested for G6PD deficiency
  • Some people (including children) would rather not take a medicine every day
  • Some people are concerned about the potential of getting an upset stomach from primaquine