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As someone who is an American-born-Nigerian and my wife, born and raised in Nigeria, I can confirm this. My wife got malaria all the time in Nigeria, it was li
by smtddr 12y ago
As someone who is an American-born-Nigerian and my wife, born and raised in Nigeria, I can confirm this.
My wife got malaria all the time in Nigeria, it was like a really bad cold or a flu in America. You get over it and move on. Only if your immune system is already compromised in some other way like old age or whatever malaria isn't really that big a deal among those who were strong and healthy before getting it. Instead of trying to stop malaria, focus on how they can get food. If they're well fed and strong/healthy, the malaria won't kill 'em just like it didn't kill my wife or any of her 5 siblings, or her university classmates, or my parents, or their siblings, etc. Now, there are those in Africa who don't have plenty to eat and/or have stressful daily lives that prevent getting a couple of days of rest. That is what allows malaria to kill so many. Just like the flu in America would kill a whole lot more often if there was a lack of food or inability to get consecutive days of rest.
- Mikeb85 12y agoYeah, my brother in law got Malaria in another tropical country, like a bad flu, recovered pretty quick. Certainly not as scary as people make it out to be (unless you're already in bad shape). One also has to remember the epidemic flu viruses that killed millions in the west in past centuries, yet now we barely care enough to get flu shots.
- sebastianavina 12y agobut, but, we are solving world problems!
- sangnoir 12y agoI think medical care is the missing part of the equation in your anecdote (and gp's). If you get malaria and medical attention, you'll have a lousy time, but probably be fine. However, for people with limited access to medical care (too remote or too impoverished), preventing Malaria altogether is the best bet, hence mosquito nets.
- Mikeb85 12y agoIt was in a 3rd world country with 3rd world access to medical care (and he lives there)... Anyhow, health and other factors matter more than mosquito nets... Malaria isn't too different than the flu, and the flu has killed millions in the past.