Man hospitalized

but doing well,

doctors say



By Kevin C. Hall

kevin.hall@gaflnews.com



MOULTRIE — A man from Honduras was diagnosed with malaria this week at Colquitt Regional Medical Center.

The 23-year-old man, who was not identified, was admitted to CRMC with a fever, according to Dr. Frances M. Kundi, a Moultrie physician specializing in internal medicine. Initial efforts to control the fever failed, Kundi said.

Kundi diagnosed the malaria on Monday, he said.

The man is the only local victim of the disease identified so far, Kundi said. He remains hospitalized but is doing well. Kundi said the man has been in the United States about four months, so he probably brought the disease with him from Honduras.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Epidemiology have been notified, Kundi said.

A CDC spokesman said the case is under investigation and there is nothing to report yet.

Malaria is a serious, sometimes fatal, disease caused by one of four parasites, according to the CDC’s Website at www.cdc.gov. It occurs in more than 100 countries and territories, mostly Central and South America, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Oceania.

Symptoms of malaria include fever and flu-like illness, including shaking chills, headache, muscle ache and tiredness. Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur. Malaria may cause anemia and jaundice (yellow coloring of the skin and eyes) because of the loss of red blood cells.

For most people, symptoms begin 10 days to four weeks after infection, although a person may feel ill as early as eight days or up to one year later.

Malaria is one of several diseases transmitted by mosquitos, according to Paul Morrison, a communicable disease specialist with the Public Health District based in Albany. The mosquito bites an infected person, picks up the malaria parasite and deposits it some time later when it bites another person.

People should take reasonable precautions against all mosquito-borne diseases, Morrison said.

He said mosquitos feed approximately an hour before and after sunrise and sunset. During those times especially, a person outside should use mosquito repellent.

Avoid likely breeding grounds, he urged.

Children are at particular risk for mosquito bites, he said. They’re more active than adults, so they give off more carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a trigger for mosquitos.

People traveling abroad should check with their doctor four to six weeks before their trip, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website recommends. Vaccinations and drugs can help prevent many diseases prevalent in other countries, including malaria.



To contact reporter Kevin C. Hall, please call 985-4545 ext. 221