We get many questions about health: malaria and other diseases that may be found here. Malaria is usually is the one on most people’s minds. We always advise to do whatever your doctor tells you. But additionally we tell people of our experience from living full time in the forest here.
Malaria: since 2014 when we were all here permanently, our two daughters each have had one bout with Malaria – one time falcipirum and another vivax. Each time was in the dry season; there were no noticeable mosquitoes about; and our whole family became lax in using our night time mosquito nets. In the years when we faithfully use our nets, no one has had malaria. Our practice is to always test for malaria when anyone has a fever early on. The test kits here in Cambodia are very quick, easy, effective and available at the health centre, as is the current malaria meds to treat both types. We do not take any prophylaxis (Doxycycline and Malarone are common options). You need to be aware of your health care options about 2 weeks after leaving our area (the average incubation period) and consider if you will be in a remote area where there might not be great health care available, or if you are in a city where there isn’t any facilities to treat malaria – weigh up your options then.
Another disease here is Scrub Typhus. A rickettsial bacteria that is carried by ticks and mites in the forest and can be passed on to humans. The mites are particularly common here and I have had hundreds of bites, but have never contracted typhus. Ben once contracted typhus, and it went undiagnosed for too long resulting in a medivac to Bangkok and ICU and a month-long hospital stay there. If treated early, the treatment is simple and if you are on Doxycycline as an antimalarial, it is unlikely that you will contract scrub typhus.
What guests need to remember after leaving here is to be careful with any fever you may develop and make sure that you are checked out for malaria or possible scrub typhus. Don’t let a fever sit for more than 3 days if you aren’t getting better without consulting your health professional. Make sure they know you have been to a tropical country and were in the forest (and tell them to look for malaria and typhus if you need to!)
And, vitally important to every traveller: Get health insurance. Make sure your insurance covers medivac (to at least Bangkok), any accidents and illnesses while you are travelling away from home. Anything can happen, anytime, often out of your control: Malaria, other diseases, accidents. And, you don’t want to burden your family or those around you to try to find enough money to help you.
Back to Ben’s bout of scrub typhus – the ICU in Phnom Penh, the medivac to Bangkok and a month in ICU and on the wards in Bankgok cost, all up $150,000 USD. Insurance covered all that. Look for a policy – they are cheap for travel in Asia. Here is one option, World Nomads which is easy to purchase along the way. But don’t come here without it!