Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
iodine or povidone-iodine. Large bottles of the latter are available at a reasonable price in
the many pharmacies in Madagascar or can be bought in spray form as Betadine or Savlon
Dry before arrival. Bathe the wound twice a day, more often if you can, by dabbing with
cotton wool dipped in dilute potassium permanganate, or iodine solution. Bathing in sul-
phur springs cures too.
GETTING JIGGY ON MY BIRTHDAY
Kara Moses, primatologist
My 26th birthday was one I'll never forget. Friends at Durrell threw me a very Mala-
gasy party: much local food, music, dancing and of course rum.
Thenextmorning,myactualbirthday,Iblearilyawokeintheswelteringheatwitha
poundingheadandsearingpaininmyrightfoot.Washingawaythedirtrevealedthree
large white lumps, each with a black dot at the centre: the dreaded
parasy
(jiggers)
that I'd been having nightmares about. These parasitic fleas burrow beneath the skin,
periodically laying and releasing eggs through a hole.
Fidy volunteered to dig them out and gathered a disturbing array of equipment:
sewing needles, scissors, candles and, to my bewilderment, a bottle of brake fluid.
Miles from the nearest town, this was the best antiseptic available. I swallowed hard
and prepared myself for the ordeal, wondering if there was any rum left over.
Closer inspection revealed my foot to have, in fact,
five
new residents. My stomach
churned. For what seemed like an eternity, Fidy hacked at my foot, gleefully singing
Happy Birthday to You
, while I fought back tears and vomit. They were the biggest
one's he'd ever seen, Fidy announced, adding that they must have been there at least
a month, hidden under the permafilth covering my feet. With number three out, I took
a breather, consoling myself we were over half way. Then he discovered yet another
two.
Once they were all finally removed (and burnt on the candle with a satisfying pop),
the seven sore, gaping holes were steeped in brake fluid. I spent the rest of my birth-
day dousing the entire camp with insecticide. From then on I religiously washed and
inspected my feet daily, deferring for a second opinion at the slightest mark, much to
the amusement of all. '
Parasy?
' I'd ask fearfully. '
Tsy misy parasy
' they'd laugh, and
I'd breathe a sigh of relief.
SUNBURN
Light-skinned people, particularly those with freckles, burn remarkably
quickly neartheEquator,especially whensnorkelling. Wearing ashirt,preferably onewith
acollar,protectstheneckandback,andlongshortscanalsobeworn.Useasunscreenwith
a high protection factor (at least SPF25) on the back of the neck, calves and other exposed
parts.
