Many survivalists stock up on ammo and guns to protect themselves from imaginary pillagers and roving gangs as seen in the movie “Mad Max”. In reality your biggest threat will likely be biological hazards, microscopic in size.
Pathogens are your main enemy in a survival situation.
You don’t need to bust out your lab equipment to prepare and protect yourself from contagious diseases.
The U.S. Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 states that microscopic parasitic animals and plants gain entry to the body through any opening available. These openings can be through the mouth, ears, other orifices, and open wounds.
When in a foreign country ask the locals what diseases to watch out for and how to avoid them. They often have effective ways of dealing with pathogens if you yourself do not.
Malaria
In tropical climates malaria is the biggest killer of travelers.
Mosquitoes infected with malaria virus transmit it to their hosts that they feed on (you).
The Anopheles mosquito is responsible for carrying the disease. It is identifiable because it’s body points itself at a 45 degree angle when feeding.
Here are some guidelines to avoid contracting malaria:
- Camp on the highest ground available.
- Have mosquito netting in your emergency kit. Improvise nets from palm leaves and other vegetation where possible if you do not have a mosquito net.
- If you don’t have a net smearing mud on exposed parts of body can help.
- Wear all of your clothing, tucking your pants into your socks or shoes
- Wear a mosquito head-net and gloves.
- Make sure mosquito repellant is in your emergency kit.
- Beforehand take antimalarial tablets
Plague
Historically the plague has been the king of infectious diseases.
It’s estimated that throughout history the plague has been responsible for killing over 200,000,000 people.
The plague cased three major pandemics in human history.
The first pandemic occurred in the fifth and sixth century in the Middle East through the Mediterranean basin the plague killed 50% of the population.
The second occurred in Europe during the 8th century in Europe killing off 40% of the population.
The third occurred in China in 1855 and is still going on although mostly controlled.
Fleas are the carriers of the plague. The fleas hosts and mode of transport are rats and rodents.
To rid a rodent that you are trying to use as an emergency food source from fleas hang it upside down to drain it of blood. As it’s body cools the fleas will leave looking for another host.
Always prepare your survial kit with repellants.
Wear tight-fitting leggings and boots to stop fleas from crawling up your legs.
Ticks
If upon daily inspection of your body you find a tick don’t try to yank it out or it’s head will burrow deeper inside your body. Grab the ticks body with tweezers while applying a lighted ember from a stick or cigarette. The tick will let go when burned. Dispose of the tick in your camp fire.
Before putting on your shoes or boots inspect for scorpions, snakes, other bugs before jamming your foot in. The failure to do this has resulted in painful injury from bites.