Dr. Paul Plante and PH Johan Van Der Merwe stand next to an African Thorn Acacia or Fever Tree Acacia, which grows near marshy areas and riverbanks and at one time was believed to be the cause of malaria. In reality, the tree doesn't cause diseases, but actually carries multiple legitimate medicinal properties.

The diagnosis is easy if malaria is suspected because a simple stain of your blood smear will confirm the diagnosis to your doctor. It's also possible to have two types of malaria at the same time (occurs 5 percent of the time). As with most parasitic infections, you will build little immunity regardless of how many times you get exposed. And there are no vaccines.

Preventing malaria can be broken into three distinct approaches. Mosquito control via the judicious use of insecticides and drainage of breeding sites works but are not adequately employed in most countries that we hunt in. Simply using an insect repellent containing DEET can be a lifesaver. You shouldn’t worry about the smell spooking game; you already play the wind when you hunt. The third option is to take prophylactic medications. You’ll note that we do not suggest quinine. Yes the native “fever tree” (pictured with Paul and PH Johan Van Der Merwe) has retained some usefulness still, but it is inadequate these days.

Chloroquine is also less useful then it once was because of the emergence of resistant strains of the parasite(s). The dose is 500mg one time per week starting one week prior to travel and continuing for four weeks after your return. It's pregnancy safe and the side effects are minimal. They include headache, dysphoria and itching in folks with darker skin.

Larium (mefloquine) is used in areas that have chloroquine resistant malaria which includes most of Africa, South America and Southeast Asia. The preventative dose is 250mg one time per week starting one week prior to travel and continuing for four weeks after your return. It's also pregnancy safe but does carry the side effects of nausea, dizziness, psychiatric symptoms and disturbed sleep.

Doxycycline at 100mg per day is an alternative to Larium but isn't pregnancy safe, shouldn't be used in children and causes skin sensitivity to the sun.

Malarial resistance and endemic geographic patterns are constantly in flux. Instead of providing you with data that is likely to be less than accurate down the road, we urge you to look at the CDC website (www.cdc.gov/travel) or make a phone call to their travel hotline; FYI TRIP at 1 877-394-8747 prior to your hunt.

In conclusion, planning and prevention are the order of the day. It's not the other guy who always gets sick. It can be you too. Malaria is the real deal and must be treated that way. Copy this article and file it away for future reference. BE SAFE and ENJOY THE OUTDOORS.