Mild Seven Outdoor Quest

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Health risks in equatorial paradise

Lisa de Speville / 30.10.2004

The unfortunate reality of racing through the wildest and most adventurous locations on the planet is that you’re exposed to numerous not-so-nice elements.

They may be microscopic organisms like bacteria and viruses or they may be big and fierce like a stampeding elephant. Plants aren’t all that innocent either. Poison ivy takes responsibility for causing much backcountry discomfort. In the water and on land, insects and creatures will be encountered that sting, bite and suck. Awareness, prevention (where possible) and appropriate treatment are important.

AWARENESS
At MSOQ this year, the primary bad guys are:

Malaria: Sabah is a malaria area but because of the staged nature of the event, risk is very low and prophylaxis has not been recommended. Competitors are outside during the day, sleeping safely and soundly at this luxurious Nexus Resort Karambunai at night.

Cuts & Wounds: All cuts and wounds need to be immediately cleaned with disinfectant and dressed. Wounds are an open door to infectious agents, which breed prolifically in this hot and humid environment.

Bites & Stings: Highly poisonous box jelly fish, well known in North-East Australia, have been found in the ocean around Sabah. Fatalities have been very few but the risk does exist. Competitors splashing in the sea also need to be cautious of coral cuts, encountering stingrays and stepping on camouflaged rockfish.

Cutaneous larva migrans: In English, these are parasitic worms that obtain access to your body through your skin. Infection usually results from direct contact with contaminated soil, often from walking barefoot. Here in Sabah hookworm is common. They’re intestinal parasites and are easily eliminated.

Leptospirosis: This is probably the easiest to contract as the bacteria reside in water, soil or food contaminated by urine excreted from infected animals. Symptoms are often flu-like and may be confused with malaria or Dengue fever. Thus, diagnosis is often wrong and correct treatment may be delayed. See All Event Posts