The Battle with the Mbu

My impression was that mosquitoes (“mbu” in Swahili) would not be as big of a problem right now – we are in a city, and rainy season has just passed. Additionally, malaria incidence/year in Dar es Salaam is around 5%, versus 25% or more in other regions of Tanzania. However, that doesn’t mean that malaria doesn’t exist, or that mosquitoes aren’t a problem. A roommate in our house got malaria just last week (albeit a milder version since she’s on anti-malarials), and Tanzanians I have talked to here says pretty much everyone has had multiple bouts. Also, 95% of the mosquitoes we see don’t carry the malaria parasite, but many of them are carriers for lymphatic filariasis, a condition that can cause swelling of body parts by (cutting off blood circulation).

On Monday, I awoke to a mosquito angrily buzzing straight into my ear, and noticed 17 mosquito bites on one elbow alone. Clearly the electrocuting racket (which I first saw in my uncle’s house in Calcutta) we were using before bedtime and the rather older bednets weren’t working. Swarms of mosquitoes infested the house around dusk, and even though all of us heavily apply the local roll-on mosquito repellant, something more had to be done. Shouting “DIE MOSQUITO, DIE” also seemed to have no effect, surprisingly.



We decided it was time to change the bednets in the house. Joe went out and bought brand new insecticide treated bednets – we were sure we outsmarted them this time, being Public Health practitioners and all. I was looking forward to passing out last night, sure to find dead mosquitoes lying on the net in the morning.

Unfortunately, that was not the case - a finger was swollen this morning from bites; still can’t entirely bend it. Perhaps it was because the corners of the net were not entirely tucked in. Also, even though we google-translated the bednet packaging, it’s possible the insecticide hasn’t yet been applied, which is why they included mini-packets of the treatment with the bednet. Yet another reason to learn practical Swahili... But even if the net was insecticide treated, mosquitoes would have to sit on it for a rather long time for it to take effect.

At least we get to see first hand how complex combating malaria is…