Mosquitoes and diseases

Ah, those bloodsucking, parasitic pests, one of which is flying around my head even as we speak . . .








Conclusion: If mosquitoes had been one of the Ten Plagues, Pharaoh would have given up long before.

A few weeks ago, I bought this liquid mosquito repellent, which is a thing you plug into the wall.

The current heats the liquid chemical, which releases into the air with a fragrant scent. It's only about $5, cheap enough, but I'm not sure of the long-term effects on human health. All I could find online on this subject were very technical reports that no doubt owed their unbiased nature to millions of dollars of grant money.

But does this device actually work in repelling mosquitoes? Since they manage to get into the room anyway (under the door, since I never open the windows), I notice that when the device is on, the mosquitoes all stay on the ceiling, motionless. Since the ceiling is high, this is no doubt where they feel the least effect of the chemical. So in a way, it is effective because at least the mosquitoes are not bothering me.

But there are a couple of things I learned in Malawi about keeping away mosquitoes. Mosquitoes do not like:

• Moving air, such as a fan (because they can't land)
• Air-conditioning (cold)
• Garlic

Yes, garlic. If you eat a lot of it, mosquitoes will stay away. (And so will everything and everyone else.) Why that is, I will have to do a technical report on. In the new world.

Meanwhile, since death is inevitable here anyway, what are some diseases that can do you in?

I don't know about the countryside, but here in the big city the breakdown on diseases is as follows:

malaria: very occasionally (more prevalent in the rurals)

yellow fever: none (then why was I required to bring my yellow-fever certificate, which they didn't even ask to see at the airport??)

typhoid: occasionally in restaurants, so be careful (usually has a connection with untreated water)

hepatitis A: some risk

dengue fever: some risk

cholera: some risk

So all in all, if you're careful, especially by washing your hands frequently and watching where and what you eat and drink, you can manage not to die. Fortunately, Kigali has made great strides over the past few years in food safety and general hygiene. The authorities have even undertaken to close down restaurants (imagine!) that do not meet their health standards.

Also, I brought from the U.S. a bottle of Green Black Walnut Wormwood Complex and a bottle of Oil of Oregano. These two work wonders at getting rid of parasites, amoebas (amoebae? nah...too many vowels), etc. Operating principle: The nastier something tastes, the better it is for you. So I'm ready!

Minor, non-life-threatening health annoyances: I have had isolated days of constantly running sinuses. This condition lasts the whole day, sometimes two, and the only thing I can do is lie down and sleep, which is not always practical, such as when in a crowded public bus. The generic form of Singulair (for hay fever) I brought from the States has no effect. After the day or two of misery, I'm fine. No problems until maybe a week later. So what is it--pollen, dust--that is giving me the problem? I went to this hospital close to home to see what they could do for me.

I paid $9 for a consultation--such is the case without insurance--then waited to see the brother who happens to be the Bethel doctor, Brother Gahigi from Congo. I had to explain my symptoms in French, which was manageable (for the most part). Je pense que la poussière me dérange… He prescribed some tablets and a nasal spray ($18 total), which seemed to work when I used them that evening. So...a little on the expensive side, but I'll live!

Unrelated note: This very day, I achieved 35 years of full-time service! Also, my student, Liu Xin En, who has been so anxious to get his own Bible, finally got his wish! Epimaque remembered that there were two Chinese Bibles at his parents' place, given to him previously by a brother visiting from the Nairobi Chinese Congregation. So this past Saturday Mr. Liu was very happy when I gave him a Bible, saying that "now he can look up the scriptures himself." I also gave him a Bible Teach book and said that we would now be switching from the Good News brochure (after 3 lessons) to this book, since he seemed to easily grasp the brochure and could now handle the book's material. Making very good progress!