Comments on: Malaria vaccine casues permanent brain damage

Malaria vaccine casues permanent brain damage

omidius — Thu, 27 May 2004 10:07:00 -0800

In the can-anything-else-go-wrong file, US Troops suffer from permanent brain damage after being administered malaria treatment. For as big a logistical challenge a war might be, and technological advances in mass support systems, you'd think the joint-forces would do a better job?

By: Civil_Disobedient

Civil_Disobedient — Thu, 27 May 2004 11:26:00 -0800

Doh. In all fairness, Larium isn't that bad -- it's mentioned in the article as giving people suicidal thoughts: in my own experience, it just caused some incredibly fucked up dreams.

By: jammer

jammer — Thu, 27 May 2004 11:41:31 -0800

I blame Halliburton.

By: squirrel

squirrel — Thu, 27 May 2004 11:41:55 -0800

I've known people who have taken Larium when traveling in Asia. Hard core badness. Nightmares, paranoia, nausea, and my favorite, "recurring disturbing thoughts that refuse to leave the mind." And now we see permanent brain damage. I see this as being consistent with the pentagon's long-standing policy of prioritizing the mission of the moment over the safety of our soldiers. To the dgree of reckless disregard. Two examples off the top of my head are Agent Orange, and depleted uranium shells--cases of which our soldiers slept on during the first gulf war.

By: Duck_Lips

Duck_Lips — Thu, 27 May 2004 11:51:17 -0800

I briefly tried larium, with minor ill effect ( some kooky dreams). I find malarone much better, as long as you remember to take it every day. Come to think of it, i LIKED the kooky dreams... oh well maybe I can get a new prescription.

By: junkbox

junkbox — Thu, 27 May 2004 12:08:52 -0800

It's not just the Pentagon - the Peace Corps also gives Lariam to many of its volunteers.

By: mr_roboto

mr_roboto — Thu, 27 May 2004 12:35:41 -0800

I wonder how many millions of lives have been saved by Lariam and related drugs. There are about two million deaths as a result of malaria annually: almost all of them in populations that have no access to antimalarial drugs.

By: xowie

xowie — Thu, 27 May 2004 13:55:20 -0800

Told you so.

By: rough ashlar

rough ashlar — Thu, 27 May 2004 15:32:02 -0800

If the people who claim the Government can't do things like schools, roads, trash hauling, other infrastructure.....why is the Government gonna run a military any better?

By: stavrosthewonderchicken

stavrosthewonderchicken — Thu, 27 May 2004 16:46:52 -0800

Larium is not a vaccine, it's prophylaxis. I took it for months. I only suffered minor brain damage. The warnings are all over the packaging. You takes your chances.

By: sunexplodes

sunexplodes — Fri, 28 May 2004 07:46:47 -0800

I too suffered damage from taking larium. Unfortunately, the warnings on the label are economical with the truth, to say the least... that being said, this isn't a new story... why is the U.S. and Canada so slow to get with the program?

By: bashos_frog

bashos_frog — Fri, 28 May 2004 08:35:02 -0800

I took this before going to work in India - just nausea, no brain damage - well... none that I am able to recognize. My wife's opinion might vary.