Sierra Leone - Getting Sick

Malaria in the severe falciparum (malignant) form occurs throughout the country and is chloroquine-resistant. Tungiasis is widespread. Many viral diseases, some causing severe hemorrhagic fevers, are transmitted by ticks, fleas, mosquitoes, sandflies, etc. Relapsing fever and tick-, louse- and flea-borne typhus occur. Sleeping sickness (human trypanosomiasis) is regularly reported. Foodborne and waterborne diseases are highly endemic. Bilharziasis is present and widespread throughout the country, as are alimentary helminthic infections, the dysenteries and diarrheal diseases, including cholera, giardiasis, typhoid fever, and hepatitis A and E. Hepatitis B is hyperendemic; poliomyelitis is endemic, and trachoma widespread. Frequently fatal are navirus hemorrhagic fevers which have attained notoriety. Rats pose a special hazard; lassa fever has a virus reservoir in the commonly found multimammate rat. Use all precautions to avoid rat-contaminated food and food containers. Ebola and Marburg hemorrhagic fevers are present but reported infrequently. Epidemics of meningococcal meningitis can occur. Echinococcosis (hydatrid disease) is widespread in animal breeding areas. One atlas of the world lists even childbirth as a communicable disease in Sierra Leone. So be careful-there is only one doctor for every 13,153 people in the country. Witch doctors provide the only "health care" available outside the capital.