Page 42 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

40 BASICS The media
joint and muscle pain as well as a rash, nausea and public hospitals, which are best avoided where
vomiting. There is no specific treatment for the possible. Whichever type of hospital you use, you
virus, save for resting and taking paracetamol – do will typically be required to pay upfront in US
not take aspirin, as this will increase the likelihood dollars before receiving treatment.
of haemorrhaging. Outside the main cities, local pharmacies are a
Because of the risks, in addition to taking malaria good place to seek help for medical problems,
prophylactics, it is important to try and avoid insect and you’ll often see queues of people waiting
bites while you are travelling. Whereas malaria is outside the better ones. in the major tourist desti-
spread by a mosquito that bites between dusk and nations pharmacists will often speak english. Be
dawn, the dengue-carrying mosquito typically bites aware that there are considerable problems with
during the daytime and at any time of year – don’t fake and out-of-date drugs in myanmar – if you
let your guard down in dry season – with take regular medication, ensure that you bring
occasional concentrated outbreaks. enough with you to last for your entire stay, and
Prevent mosquito bites by wearing light- avoid buying over-the-counter drugs wherever
coloured clothes that cover your arms and legs. possible.
Cover any exposed skin with an insect repellent
containing a high percentage of DEET – around 30 MEDICAL RESOURCES
percent. Use mosquito nets or screens when Canadian Society for International Health T613 241 5785,
sleeping, and spray any holes in the netting with Wcsih.org. Extensive list of travel health centres.
your insect repellent before going to sleep. CDC T1 800 232 4636, Wwwwnc.cdc.gov/travel. Official US
government travel health site.
Heat problems International Society of Travel Medicine T1 404 373 8282,
Wistm.org. A comprehensive list of travel health clinics in the US.
most places in myanmar are hot year-round. For London Hospital for Tropical Diseases Wwww.thehtd.org.
visitors from cooler climates, it can take some time The UK government’s latest travel advice, as well as travel health
to adjust to the temperatures, especially when you information.
are frequently walking outdoors. The most MASTA (Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad)
common heat-related complaint is dehydration, Wmasta-travel-health.com. Information on UK travel clinics and
which should be dealt with immediately to avoid health advice for travellers.
developing into heat exhaustion. Symptoms The Travel Doctor (TMVC) Wtraveldoctor.com.au. Lists travel
include weakness, headaches, vomiting and clinics in Australia.
nausea, and a weak and rapid pulse. dilute ORS in a
litre of water, try to get out of the heat, and rest
with the legs elevated until the symptoms abate. The media
The same measures can be taken to reduce
swelling of the feet and ankles, another common Not surprisingly, Myanmar’s media
irritation in this climate. was kept in an iron-fisted grip under
Heatstroke is a more serious medical problem. the country’s military regime. Strict
Symptoms include a sudden increase in body censorship was introduced following
temperature, weakness, confusion, loss of coordina- the military coup of 1962 and relaxed
tion, fitting and – eventually, if left untreated – only in 2012, although controls
death. if you or anyone in your party is showing remain tight to this day – the country
symptoms of heatstroke, seek medical help was ranked a modest 131 out of 180
immediately, get out of the heat and apply cold, in the 2017 worldwide Press Freedom
wet cloths and ice to the patient’s body. Index produced by Reporters Without
Borders (although even this is a massive
Hospitals, clinics and improvement on its 2010 position,
pharmacies when it ranked 174 out of 178 countries
surveyed, above other Southeast Asian
in Yangon there are several international-standard nations including Malaysia, Singapore
medical centres (see p.97), and large towns will and Brunei).
often have several private medical centres that are The 2012 reforms allowed at least a modicum of
used by wealthier locals. Conditions in these clinics press freedom, including the private ownership of
are variable but generally better than those in daily newspapers and the lifting of pre-publication

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