Malaria, Burma, Refugee camps

We visited some houses yesterday and looked for standing water sources with mosquito larvae in them. It was fascinating to see the homes that people lived in and a privilege to be invited in. Larvae where everywhere. Wow, no wonder malaria and mosquito borne illness are some of the biggest killers internationally. I can't imagine being able to effectively control all standing water sources during the rainy season. All mosquitoes need is about 1/2 a cup of water to live in. It really emphasizes the need for a vaccination or some more effective human intervention. Their screening program is very good and extensive (including many local huts where people can be tested if they develop a fever). Here they use a rapid test - similar to a pregnancy test - to test for P. falciprium (spelling?) - which is the most scary since it can cause cerebral malaria. Though the rapid test misses vivax, malarae, and ovalae. If negative, a blood slide is collected and sent to the local hospital for screening.

Also got a chance to go to Burma (Myanmar). Mae Sot, where I am now is 4km from the border. Paid $10 for a day pass - conflicted about this because it goes directly to the Junta military gov't that has been oppressing the people of Burma for over 50 years. It really is striking the difference a border makes. We crossed a bridge of about 400m and instantly there what a noticeable cultural difference. In Thailand, most of the people you meet are open, gregarious and happy. In Burma, people were hesitant to have conversations, rarely smiled, the energy difference was palpable. The only ones unaffected were the children, who were beautiful - laughing and playing seemingly without a care in the world. They keep your passport at the border, to ensure that you come back and to track those who don't. You are only allowed to visit from 6am to 6pm for one day only. What a fascinating country - you get glimpses of a rich cultural and historical heritage that I think you could explore with more time. This brief glimpse has increased my interest in visiting but I really do not want to do anything that supports this horrible government. I am unsure what will possibly change the situation in the future. Though the US government publicly condemns the actions in Burma - there is very little information leaving the country about what is happening to the people (forced labor camps etc...). US companies like IBM, Pepsi and many others also invest in Burma because of cheap labor. The Myanmar government even has lobbyists in Washington to foster good relations and keep up appearances.
It is also one of the biggest exporters of heroin and methamphetamines (maybe this will be the avenue for international intervention)

We also drove by the MSF (medicine Sans Frontiers) camp in Thailand - where Burmese refugees have been living since all of the conflicts began just after WWII. We were not allowed to stop since we were not cleared beforehand - its an extensive process with a background check and an application. This is what I had to do to arrange the week at the end of this program where I am able to work in a similar camp further south on the Burmese border. We were only able to drive slowly by the edge of the camp. Wow. It was huge, the side near the road was probably about 10k long and it went far back into the mountains. 100,000 people could easily live there. It was strange to see children laughing and playing as we went by and think that this was the only life that they ever knew. They have never visited their ancestral home and might never be repatriated. I can't wait until the end of the trip when I can have a more in depth look at the life in the camps.