George Clooney Has Speedy Recovery from Malaria

During a recent appearance on the Piers Morgan show, actor George Clooney shocked viewers when he remarked he was recovering from malaria. Clooney had just returned from a trip to the Sudan, where he was working with the U.N. to prevent on-going violence in that area.

It was the second time Clooney has contracted the disease. Malaria is carried by infected mosquitoes and kills nearly 800,000 people, most of them children each year. Along with HIV/Aids, malaria is a leading cause of death in Africa.

Commenting on his speedy recovery from the disease, Clooney said. "This illustrates how with the proper medication, the most lethal condition in Africa can be reduced to a bad ten days instead of death."

What is malaria?

Malaria is a mosquito borne disease caused by any one of four parasites called Plasmodia. It is transmitted to individuals by the female Anopheles mosquito.

When a person is bitten by the mosquito, the parasite enters the bloodstream by way of the mosquito's saliva. A pregnant woman can pass the disease onto her baby. Reusing a needle from an infected person can spread the disease as can a blood transfusion from someone who has the disease.

About 1500 cases of malaria are reported in the U.S. each year,. The majority of cases are in travelers and immigrants returning from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, southern India and sub tropical Latin America.. Travelers who have been in these countries should seek medical help immediately if they become sick on returning to the U.S.

What are the symptoms of malaria?

Following an infectious bite, an incubation period of 7-30 days can go by before symptoms occur in the most common strain. Other strains can incubate up to a year before symptoms appear. It is important to inform the doctor if you get sick after traveling in tropical country.

Patients experience flu-like symptoms such as: fever, chills, sweats, headache, nausea and vomiting. Seizures can occur in young children. Without treatment the disease progresses and can cause multi-organ failure, coma and death.

Preventing and treating malaria

Consult with health agencies such as the CDC, health clinics or your physician before you travel to malaria risk countries. If you are traveling in a country where malaria is prevalent, take preventive medicine such as chloroquine and proguanil.

Use mosquito repellant all the time. Mosquitoes bite at dusk and dawn. Spray insecticide on window screens. When sleeping outside or in an unscreened room, have an insecticide treated net around your bed. Tuck it into the bottom sheet.

It is not recommended that pregnant and breast feeding women travel to subtropical regions, but preventive medicine is effective for most strains of malaria. Unfortunately drug resistant parasites in the mosquito saliva can cause miscarriage, premature births and birth defects.

Treatment is intended to destroy the parasites while they are still in the red blood cells. Three types of medicine are used: quinine, pyramethamine and sulfa drugs.

Celebrities united against malaria

Many celebrities in the entertainment business, as well as sports figures, world health organizations and philanthropists have been active in combating malaria. Actress Sharon Stone was instrumental in starting malaria awareness among Hollywood celebrities.

She told how a donation of only $10 can buy a mosquito net, mosquito spray, and education for someone living in a malaria prone country. Money is also needed for spraying, clinics, doctors, nurses and medicine.

Other celebrities besides Sharon Stone United Against Malaria are: Mandy Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Justin Bieber, Jeff Probst, Jonas Brothers, Ted Danson, Josh Groban, Madonna, Cher and American Idol.

There is no quick fix for malaria and no vaccine yet. Many returning travelers are surprised to learn that even if they took all precautions and did not get sick, recent travel to a place where malaria occurs makes them ineligible to donate blood.

To make a donation to fight malaria:

https://civi.umcom.org/civicrm/contribute/transact?reset=1&id=7

http://www.malaria.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=79&Itemid=43

Sources:

http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/index.html

http://www.huffingtontonpost.com/2010/10/16/1040278?sac=World