Thursday 7 August 2008

Trypanophobia...


Today I learned a new word - Trypanophobia: the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. (Gotta love Wikipedia!)

The reason for my word search is due to the fact I have temporarily become a human pin-cushion. From Typhoid Fever to Hepatitis A & B, I've begun my series of vaccinations for my big trip. Unfortunately, I fear needles. I'm not suggesting I have an extreme irrational fear, but I do really really dislike them...but I guess I would dislike being infected with Typhoid Fever more.

Yesterday I had my second round of the rabies vaccine. It seems that certain parts of Central America are prone to the rabies virus. This includes the part of Honduras I am visiting. Like many (I'm sure), I assumed that the rabies would be transmitted via infected dogs. I was sadly mistaken, however, as the virus is also found in bats. Yes, you heard me correctly - BATS!!! Healthy, sleeping bats don't really bother me - I actually had a family of them camping out in one of my huts while travelling through Thailand - but foaming angry bats?! I'll never complain about the noisy pigeon that hangs out on my terrace again.

1 comment:

Gorilla Bananas said...

"Never trust a flying animal," is what I say. If they're not biting your flesh, they're shitting on your head.