Wendy Renee's African Eclipse Adventure
21 June 2001

The story begins...

...with Malaria.
Months before our scheduled departure Mom began to remind me about vaccinations and antimalarials. One shot needed to be given twice in a thirty-day interval, and could not be given in tandem with others. As the departure date approached Mom's reminders became more frequent, until finally, four weeks before we left, she gave up.

Two weeks later I called my doctor and discovered that travel medicine is not covered under my insurance plan. I took my credit card and hied myself to the travel clinic.

There are two kinds of antimalarials. LARIAM has severe side effects, while MALARONE has a prohibitive price tag. LARIAM may cause dizziniess, hallucinations, nausea, and nightmares. "Severe neurological and psychological reactions may be associated with use. Travellers requiring coordination and spatial discrimination, e.g. airline crews, surgeons, and scuba divers, should not use this drug. Discontinue use if anxiety, irritability, or paranoia develop."

Mom's HMO (Kaiser) gave her the cheap drug, naturally enough, and didn't even mention the alternative. I'm sensitive to caffeine, so my doctor prescribed MALARONE.

Mom decided against taking her paranoia-inducing anti-malarial, but brought a good supply of DEET-based insect repellent. I was relieved to know I wouldn't be rooming with a hallucinating drug user!

Yellow Fever vaccinations (painful hot bruise!) are required for travel into Zimbabwe and South Africa from infected areas. Proof of immunization must be carried, or they will  needle you  give you an injection at the airport. But to our surprise, customs officials never asked for our medical records at all!

However, we were fumigated on the plane from Zambia to SA by flight attendants wielding cans of insect spray. Mosquito control. Have you ever been fumigated?! It's not pleasant!