Malaria Tally

The malaria count between the volunteer house and the houseful of pilots now stands at six (not six currently, just six in the last six weeks or so). Rebecca got it four days before she left last weekend; Sandra was diagnosed with it yesterday; Marieke had it while she was here; Matt and Ed had it about a month ago; and last weekend we had to rescue Jason from the plane because he intelligently decided to be diagnosed with it and then do his usual 10-hour flight shift the next day. Needless to say that only lasted about an hour and we had to drag him from the plane sweating and shivering and fairly embarrassed to be doing both in front of chicks. He was also fairly sheepish when I asked him politely if he would consider being slightly more dedicated to actually taking his Doxycyclin from now on. Boys – honestly. The whole malaria thing is quite strange as we have been told it’s impossible for so many of us to have had it, and that when you get it you think you’re actually going to die. But, each person who has gone to the hospital for a blood test has been told they have malaria parasites in their blood and we can’t think of a reason we would be told that if it wasn’t true – it’s not like the hospital sells the treatment regime or that the drugs are even expensive (about $3 for a course). Sandra and a few others even looked at theirs under the microscope and the Doctor knows what he is looking for and would have no reason to tell his volunteers they have malaria when they don’t (it’s bad enough PR for him anyway). I don’t freak out about it anymore, I am basically just waiting my turn as we can only do so much to prevent it and the rest is up to Mungu (God). I’m more surprised to have not caught anything from the kids yet, as you know what kids are like with their coughs and colds… but I will stop with the disease talk now in case it tempts Fate.