MbShea@PWP@English@UMCP

In this travel guide directed for the Engineers without Borders, I will be detailing the risks of malaria that the group will face when traveling to Ghana. Malaria is present in Africa, Central and South America, parts of the Caribbean, and other areas around the world. Ghana being in West Africa, falls in the zone of countries that have high cases of malaria. According to the CDC, 1500 cases of malaria and 5 deaths are present among all international travelers to the United States. The CDC reports that all areas of Ghana have mosquitos that spread malaria and the estimated risk of malaria for US travelers in high. I will give them practical tips in avoiding malaria. In addition to the typical precautions travelers should take against malaria, climate change now has to be factored in because it alters the regions where certain mosquito carried diseases are prevalent. I present these precautions to reduce the risk that one gets malaria, but in the unfortunate case that someone in the group comes down with malaria, it is very treatable if caught early. Therefore, I will also include symptoms to look for and treatments to pursue for various severities of malaria. I will conclude with two examples of individuals who contracted malaria during their travels to emphasize the importance of following my guide. At the very end, I will provide further directions about getting shots and medications, visiting a travel clinic, and bringing materials such as Deet and nets.

I imagine a typical college student who believes that they are invincible and underestimate the risks of certain dangers. In this case, malaria would be the danger.

Reader response: There are 1500 cases of malaria and 5 deaths from ALL international travelers. Therefore, only .33% of travelers who get malaria die and this includes all countries, not just Ghana. So why is malaria such a big deal and why do I have to go through the motions of taking a ton of precautions? Odds are, I am not going to die even if I get the disease in the first place.

E, good title. I am so glad that you will share this document with EWB.

Here is a clip from the CDC:

Who is most at risk of getting very sick and dying from malaria?

Plasmodium falciparum is the type of malaria that most often causes severe and life-threatening malaria; this parasite is very common in many countries in Africa south of the Sahara desert. People who are heavily exposed to the bites of mosquitoes infected with P. falciparum are most at risk of dying from malaria. People who have little or no immunity to malaria, such as young children and pregnant women or travelers coming from areas with no malaria, are more likely to become very sick and die. Poor people living in rural areas who lack access to health care are at greater risk for this disease. As a result of all these factors, an estimated 90% of deaths due to malaria occur in Africa south of the Sahara; most of these deaths occur in children under 5 years of age.
http://www.cdc.gov/Malaria/about/faqs.html
You may want to address their cavalier attitude by noting that the risks for their population are quite high, to have a serious course of the illness. Find one or two publications or cases to underscore this point. I think that some of us in the developed world over-estimate that if we get sick, we can be treated. Not so, in all cases, including malaria.