I Had Malaria, and These Are the Bug Repellents I No Longer Travel Without
Bug spray can easily be forgotten when you’re camping, hiking, or even lounging in the backyard, but it’s really one of those items you should be sure to stick in your bag before every outdoor adventure.
While serving in the Peace Corps in Indonesia, I took anti-malarial medication every night for two years. When I left Indonesia, I continued to travel around the pacific and take medications. I thought since I was taking anti-malarials, I didn’t need to also apply bug spray. That was until I returned home to Chicago and started feeling tired, achy, and feverish with headaches that required me to lie down in the dark for hours. Every other day, the symptoms would disappear and I would feel fine. It took two weeks of this on-and-off pattern before I was rushed to urgent care and was quickly informed that this pattern is malaria’s calling card.
November 1, 2024
Taylor Fox
Taylor Fox is the Commerce Outdoor Gear Editor at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Taylor holds a Master’s in Geography and has been a writer and editor for over nine years.
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