January 21, 2011 – 11:21 AM |

George Clooney American actor, film director, producer, and screenwriter George Clooney has perhaps learned an necessary lesson — malaria makes traveling the globe a lot less fun than it should be.

Sure, it’s noble to go on philanthropic missions around the world, helping those who can’t help themselves, but it’s probably hard to feel noble when shaking from the chills. And Clooney should know. the actor George Clooney apparently has just recovered from malaria, which he contracted in Africa earlier this month, as  per media reports. CNN’s Piers Morgan on Wednesday night tweeted that George Clooney was fighting the illness and posts this clip of the actor talking about his condition. George Clooney apparently got the disease for a 2nd time while in southern Sudan during the pivotal election for independence. People magazine ran a statement from a spokesman Thursday saying the George Clooney is completely over the illness.

Malaria disease is a serious, sometimes fatal disease contracted by a mosquito bite, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. And Clooney’s illness highlights the risk that travelers face. Symptoms of malaria include fever, shivering, arthralgia (joint pain), vomiting, anemia (caused by hemolysis), hemoglobinuria, retinal damage and convulsions So take care — take preventive drugs such as chloroquine phosphate and meflonique before you go. Here’s more information from the CDC.

The World Health Organization reports a risk of malaria in more than 100 countries and says about 30,000 international travelers get the disease each year. World Health Organization  tips:

“a. Be Aware of the risk, the incubation period and the main symptoms.B. Avoid being Bitten by mosquitoes, especially between dusk and dawn.C. Take antimalarial drugs … to suppress infection where appropriate. D. Immediately seek diagnosis and treatment if a fever develops one week or more after entering an area where there is a malaria risk, and up to 3 months after departure.”

American actor George Clooney is scheduled to appear on Morgan’s show Friday night — and talk about this recent bout with malaria.

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