Really amazing how Peter99 manages to turn any topic into a platform for his anger at the rest of the world. GoKunming starts to look even more grim then Breitbart.com.
Now normally I ignore his ranting but this time I take it serious because it becomes a personal attack. (And that is not because I am, or ever was, a UN worker.)
aving worked in the fight against malaria and having worked in Laos I know that there is malaria there. Better medication and the availability of medication have created a significant drop in malaria. Because of this the efforts to control the vector are waning. This explains as well the rise in other vector transmitted diseases like Dengue.
Also some years ago, during malaria season, up to 15% of my workforce (A UXO clearing project) in Laos could be out with malaria (This was before the use of Artemisinin based combination therapy.) Indeed in Vientiane I never came across malaria but in the rural area we worked in this was a different story.
Also I rate the change that one would contract malaria in Laos small it is not so that this is impossible. Starting early with treatment after infection and the use of prophylactics in malaria prone area is still a good thing to do so carrying your own supply is advisable.
Like anywhere else there are some lazy UN workers and they might hang out in brothels and they might drive a SUV this does not mean that they are the source of misinformation and have an interest in keeping this misinformation going. It is often more the other way around in the sense that authorities hush up all kind of diseases in their territory because it makes them look not in control and hinders investments.
Most of the work against malaria is done by underfunded groups with limited means. The malaria project I did was based on one old truck and a fleet of bicycles and staff that was motivated by their own experience of malaria. We were happy that the UN (In this case WHO) handled the data we provided and not some bureaucrat that for political reasons filed our data in the bin.
Misinformation is created by those who write: been there didn’t know anybody with malaria so it does not exist. This is called anecdotal evidence. At the same time they quote from Breitbart and see zombies everywhere and think the world will be taken over by queer Prozac popping zombies.
@lemon lover: I, and others, mention, anecdotally as you say, we didn't experience or know of anyone with malaria problems. I can't see how you are able to twist that into any of us saying malaria doesn't exist. You conclusion is false. If anything, we can be accused of minimizing a significant problem.
How significant is the malaria problem? I have no idea. However, I would conclude the lack of anti-malaria medicines suggests a lack of demand for them. A lack of demand suggests low incidence of malaria.
As you say "if there is possibility of malaria" the medicines will be available for sale. A simple economic answer provides an idea of risk.
Your last sentence is pure ignorant ad hominem rant. No one would suggest Alien and I think along those lines.
strange, i thought he was habing a pop at peter99. surprised noone has had a bore session on evil pharma yet
Try asking the Grace International clinic if they can or know a hospital that dispenses. They are in the listings.
@Dazzer
Geezer is right that this was addressed at him as well because he is the one quoting from things like: Breitbart.com, Dailycaller.com and Nationalreview.com and the like. Member of what I call the Breitbart crowd.
@Geezer
Well if as you say yourself that you do not know how significant the malaria problem is than shut up and don’t contribute to the discussion.
The lack of availability of anti malaria medication in Kunming is indeed due to the absence of malaria here but he already stated that he would go into the jungle of Laos.
In rural Laos there is plenty of anti malaria medication. It's on the shelf next to the Prozac.
@Dazzer
Evil pharma:
You are very unlikely to find Malerone in rural Laos (And if they are probably fake).
This for the simple reason that it is far the expensive for that population.
Glaxo Wellcome markets the stuff claiming its level of side effects is less than other anti malarials. This is true but by doing so it execrated the levels of side effects of its competitors. Especially Mefloquine can have serious side effects and stressing this was a good way of marketing Malerone.
This way they can keep the prices for the stuff very high at at least 2 USD/day for prophylactic use.
Glaxo Wellcome did provide some Malerone to anti malaria programs but this was largely seen as a way to polish up their image.
At the same time Malerone came on the market Artemisinin-based combination therapy was introduced and this turned out to be very effective and cheaper than Malerone. Without this Glaxo Wellcome could have made a killing on Malerone. Now Malerone is mainly marketed at those seeking a prophylactic against malaria.
I found artemisinin in a Kunming pharmacy, but after some searching on the web, it seems that artemisinin is only used to cure malaria once it is contracted.
The Wiki on artemisinin says the following, "Artemisinins are not used for malaria prophylaxis (prevention) because of the extremely short activity (half-life) of the drug. To be effective, it would have to be administered multiple times each day."
Doxycycline is available at most pharmacies here. Something a little more technical like Malerone may be more difficult to find.
If you're going into high street chemists asking for Doxycycline then that's where you are going wrong. You will have to head to actual pharmasies that are around hospitals, or in hospitals themselves. I can tell you one place that has Doxycycline but its a way out of town. That's not to say its not available, only to say you have to look in the right places. High street brands can't sell any of the strong stuff. Look for somewhere where people are getting drips, like a chemist/ clinic type set up. Also you'll never find it in front of the counter, you'll have to ask for it.
Oh and the UN are clueless and pretty much as described by Peter99.
Not sure if you've noticed that there's a parallel thread going on. In it, I specified that I'm going to Phongsali, Luang Namtha and Bokeo provinces, and the guy said he didn't think there was much worry about malaria there (but that dengue fever is a worry).
Anyone know any more about this or have thoughts on this?
