What dangers should I expect in the jungle in Guyana?

Question

I'm probably gonna be going to Guyana this summer for a missions trip. I don't have a lotta details, but I know we're going to be spending quite a bit of time in the jungle. What kind of dangers should I expect?! Like what sicknesses could I get (malaria and stuff like that??)? What animals might I come across?

THANKS!

Answer 1

Animals are not a problem, they run away from you before you ever see them (except spiders and snakes!).

You need to get vaccinated as quickly as possible, some vaccinations need to be done 6 months before you go, and can require 3 doses.

You normaly start malaria tablets one week before you go.

*Putting your faith in god to look after you is plain stupid*

I'd recommend the World health Organisation for minimum vaccination requirement guidance. I think it's WHO.org but am not sure...

Answer 2

If you're going to be in the jungle you should get a couple of vaccinations, like for malaria and yellow fever.  Contact your doctor and he/she will tell you what vaccinations. You can probably also look it up on the internet.

Answer 3

Don't worry about danger... as you're doing Missionary work your faith in God should be enough to get you through the hairiest of situations.

Answer 4

you need your yellow fever as an entry requirement.  advise you are uptodate with polio, typhoid, tetanus, diptheria, hep a &b, rabies pre-exposure, meningitis, influenza......

things you might get - malaria - several different types including cerebral, dengue, cholera, typhoid, leptospirosis, filaria, worms, jiggers, mosquito worms, botfly, HIV, flesh eating bacteria.....

Dangerous animals - anaconda, bushmaster snake, tarantulas, comudi snakes, piranhas, marabuntas, ants, scorpions, sandflies, blackflies, jaguars, parrots, kiskadee, labba, frogs...

Seriously tho, even tho all these do exist, you will more than likely be fine.  Worst you'll get is a cold or a bit of diarrhoea.  Take sensible precautions - sunscreen, bugspray, mossie nets, wearing boots in the jungle, cleaning cuts thoroughly.  Malaria pills - controversial topic, I personally wouldn't take them as they dont stop you getting malaria, they mask the sypmtoms and have many nasty side-effects.  Current advice from malariologists in GT is don't take, just get a malaria quick-test  and treat for malaria (artisinate) when you get back to GT.  

Usual precautions in relationships (respect yourself, protect yourself).

DEC salt to prevent filaria (big foot).  it's sold in all supermarkets for virtually nothing

filter all water and don't touch water coming frommining areas!!!

Animals - realistically you wont see much other than ants, roaches and frogs

Other dangers - overfriendly locals, and minibus driving!