MALARIA DANGER IN KOREA

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27367, 4 June 1954, Page 8

MALARIA DANGER IN KOREA

Precautions Taken In K Force

REPORT FROM MEDICAL OFFICER (N.Z. Army Information Service) KOREA, June 1. The New Zealanders in Korea have embarked on another campaign—the annual fight against mosquito-borne malaria. After an early summer is beginning, and with it will come hot humid days with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees. With summer, too, comes the malaria-carrying mosquito. For some time now revery soldier has been required to take one paludrine tablet daily—a drug which represses and combats malaria in the blood stream. Vfery soon also salt tablets will be_ provided at each meal for those who require them. These are to- balance the loss of salt from the body. . Only a s.hort time. ago thfc Korean countryside was covered in snow, rivers were frozen and troops wore special winter clothing. Now rolled-up sleeves, mosquito nets and insect repellents are the order of the day. Captain J. G’. Walkinshaw (Christ*church) K Force Medical Officer in Korea, recently outlined to officers of the 16th Field Regiment the measures that would have to be taken to combat summer disease. “Anti-malaria oil would have to be sprayed on any still water in the area,” he said. Paddyfields which were laid with mines would have to be sprayed from the air, and tents would have to be treated with special insecticides at regular intervals. After sunset as much of the body as possible would have to be covered. Captain Walkinshaw said that Pickets on patrol duties at night would e provided with special gloves and face nets. Mosquito nets would have to be erected over all beds. Another disease which becomes more prevalent during summer is hemorrhagic fever—a disease about which little is known, but which is believed to be carried by mites which live on roddnts. Liquid mite repellent is sprayed on clothes, and by clearing scrub and rubbish dumps rodents can be kept at bay. Ear infections' are very common in tropical areas, according to Captain Walkinshaw, and Korea, is no exception. The sticky humid heat s also responsible' for many skin diseases—a, lot of them minor. There is also the problem of hygiene. Flies are plentiful, some of them monstrous, according to New Zealand standards. Another thing New Zealanders meet in Korea which people back home are grateful, to be without are snakes. Fortunately few Korean snakes . are poisonous.

In all, summer in Korea is much akin to the generally accepted idea of summer in any really tropical area. Only the jungle is non-existent.