malaria

[CajunDiva]

Robin,

I understand how DEET works. For some reason, a lot of people recommend CJ for Roatan.

Does anyone have any idea how Cactus Juice works? What are the ingredients and has this ever been tested in a lab? Is it really effective? This is a serious question because Malaria and Dengue are no laughing matter. I just returned from Africa and the tropical doctors there were very scornful of the idea of using CJ in Malaria infested areas. We looked at the CJ website and could not find any scientific study or evidence of efficacy. Other than the usual marketing hype about smelling nice and being natural. BTW. We used Deet there and it worked very well.

Please don't be confused...Cactus Juice IS NOT for the control of mosquito bites - that's why Robin said to put on Deet at night (AFTER diving) The Cactus Juice is to prevent sand flea (no see-um) bites...which has nothing to do with Malaria.

To prevent MOSQUITO bites, it is smart to use a deet-based product. (And/or take malaria prevention meds)

To prevent SAND FLEA bites, Cactus Juice is the greatest as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Cajuncru Diver]

Not a chemist....don't know how it works....just know from practical experience like Robint that it works for noseeums......if your concern is Malaria and mosquitos use deet or something approved for those critters.. don't use CJ.

 

[CajunDiva]

I have no idea how the Cactus Juice works on the noseeums. I don't know if it is the smell or some other factor. But it does work. The one day my hubby didn't use it right after diving, he got bit! We were at the dock and he took off his wetsuit and ran to the restroom there. I went ahead and showered, dried off, and then sprayed on the CJ. He got back from restroom and showered and got dressed and walked back to room. Then he remembered he hadn't sprayed. He took off his shirt because he said his back itched - sure enough, there were a dozen bites! We sprayed him and went to eat at Clubhouse. There we mentioned his back and the restroom and we were told that the noseeums live down on the dock (they love the wood planks) and he probably got the bite in the restroom. After that, he sprayed religiously and didn't get another bite. The one day I got bit, on my foot, I knew it immediately! Ouch, those bugs hurt! I had sprayed my feet but I had just rinsed them off in the rinse bucket outside the clubhouse as they were sandy. I learned my lesson. :depressed:
We didn't scratch the bites and they healed within a few days leaving only a small red dot. The dot was gone within a few weeks.

We were told that the noseeums were especially bad the week we were there due to all the rain (rainy season). But we were told that they can be bad, even when it is dry out all week. They live in the sand and eat live and decaying materials like people and plants. So the only way to get rid of them on Roatan is to clear off all the trees and pave it. Nope, not gonna happen! So we just have to adapt to them. I was also told (by Patty and Liz at CCV) that living there on the island, most people become immune to the noseeum bites and don't have to use anything. Not all people do though.

robin

Wow...looks like you guys are REALLY sensitive to the bites. We don't have problems like that. At FIBR they spray EVERY morning. We do encounter a few noseeums on the dock, but it's not as bad as what you describe.

We wake up every morning and sit out on our balcony. While we're sharing a pot of coffee, we slather on our Cactus Juice. Then we go on about our day. We never have any problems after the morning dives...we simply re-apply after lunch and we're set for the rest of the day. Then if we go out at night we use a deet-based product to prevent mosquito bites. Honestly, we rarely see any mosquitos at Fantasy Island. We enjoy evening hikes around the island to help work off our dinner and haven't experienced any problems...yet

 

[dmoore19]

We spent a week at AKR and I didn't get a single bite. We went on a Zipline and walked around in West End. I did bring a bottle of CJ spray and applied it as soon as we changed clothes after arrival, covered up that bare skin. The wife got 3 or 4 bites (noseeums)and they went away after a couple of days. AKR must spray, though I didn't see them do it. I used very little Deet and didn't have any problems at all. We did however take the chlorquine pills for the trip just to be sure. They are pretty cheap and in my opinion good insurance for just in case I forget or miss a spot. I didn't have any effects from the med and will probably do it the next time we go, we will be going back!!!!

 

[mgingras]

Thanks every one you open my light.
when i come back i will do a report from
turquoise bay resort and water sport diving.

 

[marinediva]

When I am in PNG,
I use a tea that is made from the seeds of the PAwPAw Tree to prevent malaria.
This is a native remedy, and probably has no scientific basis.

 

[DandyDon]

I never had noseeum problems at FIBR the two times, but wow did I get hit on Utila!

Unfortunately I have found that the only sure fire effective way is a repellent with diluted deet in it. 15% seems to be enough (for me anyway). I don't recommend it before diving - it is super harmful to the reef.

I used to say that, until challenged here - and could not find any site to support it. I may well have had it confused with sun block, which is bad on reefs.

Oh, I always take chloroquine. Start two weeks before, once a week for the trip and four weeks after - with auto email reminders.

 

[CajunDiva]

Thanks every one you open my light.
when i come back i will do a report from
turquoise bay resort and water sport diving.

If you would, PLEASE tell Sharon that Jackie & Hank say hi

 

[RTBDiver]

Unfortunately I have found that the only sure fire effective way is a repellent with diluted deet in it. 15% seems to be enough (for me anyway). I don't recommend it before diving - it is super harmful to the reef.

Myself and others have been asking for a long time for any legitamate studies showing that the use of deet harms the reef. The tests I did find about deet suggested a 50% death rate in a given amount of time for juvenile fresh, coldwater rainbow trout occured with DEET ratios of 71,250 parts per billion, which if my calculations are correct, and they might not be, but if so would suggest approximately 46 gallons of 100% deet in one olympic sized pool. Not 30% deet or 40% deep woods stuff but 46 gallons of 100 percent DEET?

Of course it is not needed for insect protection while diving there has never been anything to show the residue on a body is harmfull. The odd thing about cactus juice is that it contains Octisalate 5% , Oxybenzone 4% and Octinoxate 3.5% which does have tons of stuff all over the net about some of these chemicals causing bleaching. I don't know how accurate this info is but there is a whole lot more written about it than the deet issue.
We all know "natural" does not automatically mean "safe" Heck anthrax can be considered natural.
Not bashing Cactus Juice as it works for many and i doubt its really an issue to the reef but it does appear that according to many that the chemicals used in it, if the mentioned site is correct, that there is more info on it hurting the reef than other products mentioned.

 

[DandyDon]

I priced chloroquine 500 mg with my local pharmacy today: $65 for 24. Last time I just got it on the net for a lot less, but not finding many good offers today? I do like to start it 2 weeks in advance tho. Anyone have a site they like, no prescription?

This was a good post on a related thread I think...

Hepatitis A, typhoid, MMR, and tetanus-diphtheria are recommended immunizations. Malaria prophylaxis is also recommended.

I wouldn't really travel anywhere without the above immunizations, including within the US.

I'd add Hep B to that, also a good idea for living in the US - now required for Texas school kids but many adults have never done the series.

He has about talked me into the typhoid shot: 1 time for 5 years - $70.