Postcard from Bishkek

As regular readers of my postcards will be aware. I have a number of cats – the number varies from time to time – it’s been down to one and as high as eleven.

The original, (Synock – sonny), was a gift from a friend and got on with everyone … but one day whilst playing in the yard two ladies took a fancy to him, picked him up and carried him off.  Everyone in the office and among our neighbours was distraught but one of our staff took pity on me and brought me a pair of kittens – brother and sister from one litter – and said “Choose one”.  My immediate response was “One?”, thinking that it would be good for them to keep each other company.  Sure enough, I kept them both.

Over the years, others have arrived, either as strays … or simply abandoned by people who seemed to know that we would take them in and look after them until we could find them a home.

I know that cats are extremely popular subjects for posting as photos or video clips on the internet … they are so cuddly and cute.  They are not, however, universally admired.

For a start, the domestic cat has been identified as a voracious hunter, responsibly for the decimation of bird populations ion many rural areas … oddly enough, although that seems to be frowned upon, their use as “mousers” usually gains them admiration and praise … so long as they don’t bring their prey home and proudly display it to their “owners”.

Back in the UK, I had a friend who was very fond of my cat, Rosie, he would always shoo him away.  (Yes, Rosie was indeed male – a Tom cat but when he arrived as an extremely young kitten it wasn’t so obvious and … well … I made a mistake … and was too lazy to correct it once it did become obvious).  The problem was that Rosie would wander – cats do … there is some research which shoes that cover an immense amount of territory (which they may share – cohabit) along with other neighbouring cats.  The social interaction may have been beneficial to the character development but it also exposes them to other things – including cat fleas.  Apparently Rosie became infested.  They were very strange fleas, however, because they didn’t seem to affect Rosie, me or anyone else who came to visit – just Jeremy.  They really developed an appetite for his blood.  Because they were such fussy feeders and selective in their choice of victim, it took us a while to identify the source of his problem – and to eradicate it.

As it happens. It is not just a case of treating the animal itself, (for example, washing it with special shampoo …), you have to treat the whole premises because the flea lays its eggs off the animal, for example, in the carpet.

In fact, pest infestation, annoying though it may be, is not as serious as another reason that some people are less than enthralled to see them – some people are allergic to cats … and the effects of the allergy can be quite serious – and even debilitating.  One person actually said that his allergy made him feel like a social outcast – as many people, even close friends, do not understand and realize how serious a problem it presents.  Some sufferers report, for example, that the allergy is so sensitive that they don’t even have to come into contact with the cat – but can tell when meeting someone for the first time if they have a cat … the allergens contained in the cat’s skin and fur transferred to the clothes of their owner and eliciting a response in the sufferer.

 

Although some visitors to the office are enraptured by the cat’s presence, there are others who find their presence unnerving.  That seems to include quite a few Kyrgyz – I suppose that might have something to do with the fact that, (even if they are good hunters and useful for catching vermin), being territorial and nocturnal creatures, cats, unlike dogs, are not really adapted to the nomadic lifestyle that the Kyrgyz have practiced over the Centuries.

Some people are simply not used to cats,  others dislike anything small and furry, and in a couple of cases it seems to be a phobia … but, occasionally, they tell me they are allergic to cats … and when that happens, of course we move from the office to a new location.

 

Allergies have been in the news quite a lot recently.  So many stories have appeared that I was little surprised to discover a “World Allergy Day”, aiming to raise awareness among the population and focus attention on the problems that it causes for sufferers and measures that can be taken to help them.  Of cause, if it is just a case that my research was not particularly effective – I am sure that someone will tell me.

One of the news items that caught my attention referred to research that claims to have discovered how allergic reactions to cats are triggered – and which raises hope of being able to develop some form of preventative medicine.

Another told of a father of four who died as a result of a reaction to a bite from a horsefly.  Apparently it all happened very quickly – he probably died within about 15 minutes of having been bitten … Fortunately, it is also very rare.

Allergies come in many different guises – but it is not just animals that can provide the trigger.  These triggers cause “reactions” as the immune system respond to what are actually, to most of us, harmless substances as if they were a threat to the body.  Typical symptoms can include sneezing and rashes … and unfortunately, in some cases, what can be life threatening anaphylactic reactions,

Perhaps the most common form of allergy is Hay Fever … which causes an inflammation of the nasal airways when an allergen such as pollen, dust or animal dander (particles of skin and hair) is inhaled by someone who has a “sensitized immune system”.

Some people are also allergic to certain foods, such as: Milk, Fish and Shellfish, Eggs, Peanuts, Soy, Wheat and Kiwi Fruit.

 

It seems that allergies are becoming more and more prevalent.  One survey conducted in 2007 suggested that the number of hospital admissions for people suffering the effects of food allergies had increased by a factor of five over the previous 20 or so years.  Scientists are not sure what are the reasons for such a marked increase but among the various theories I have seen, are suggestions that it is a result of changing way of life; that our urban environment creates a greater exposure to substances which provoke an immune reaction are much greater than they used to be … conveyed, for example, by air pollution or in modern products.  Indeed, modern hygienic practices in such environments may actually deprive us of access to microbiota, (yes, I had to look that one up – apparently it is a word), which are beneficial for the development and maintenance of the immune system.

For the record, another recently published piece of research also found a link between the lack of “green spaces” in urban environments with higher levels of stress among the population.

 

Oddly enough, when we do venture out into the countryside we find ourselves at risk – even for those who don’t suffer from allergies.

There are plants that secrete chemicals which can cause reactions.  The “stinging nettle”, (Urtica dioica), is perhaps the classic example.  Yes, we do have stinging nettles here in Kyrgyzstan

Another is Fraxinella – known as Kupina in Russian – with its light rose coloured flowers, is sometimes associated with the burning bush found by Moses on the slopes of Mount Sinai. Glands in the plant exude essential oils and when a lighted match is brought near to the plant, the air around it seems to ignite with a light blue flame – but leaving the plant intact. In fact the air around the plant carries a mix of particles which help protect it from the heat of the sun during the day and extreme cold in the night and it is this that burns.  As Fraxinella is known to gro here in Kyrgyzstan, I think that calls for two “words of warning”:

• Do NOT try this for yourselves – it is NOT a good idea to take a match to a piece of vegetation – especially in the heat of the summer as there is a great risk of fires which can devastate the environment as well as endanger property, life and limb – and
• The plant needs to be handled with care – protect your skin – those same substances given off by the plant can also burn the skin and, unfortunately, the effects are not immediate but only appear after the passage of some time. It is best NOT to pick the flowers.

Then, there are insects … Mosquitoes and other biting insects have probably done more to ruin a wilderness experience than anything else known to man or woman.  But mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects are more than a minor annoyance. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, fleas, gnats, and other biting insects are becoming a major public health problem. Mosquitoes can carry such serious diseases as Encephalitis, Yellow Fever, Malaria, and Dengue Fever.   Both Tick borne Encephalitis, and Malaria known to occur in Kyrgyzstan, so it is best to be prepared.

Methods of Protection

• Use an insect repellent:
  • Always follow the label directions carefully.
  • Apply only to exposed skin and/or clothing as directed on the product label. Do not use under clothing.
  • Never use repellents over cuts, wounds, or irritated skin.
  • Do not apply to eyes and mouth.
  • Do not apply to the hands of young children who are prone to putting hands in their mouth. Also, use a lower concentration product for children.
  • Use just enough repellent to cover exposed skin and/or clothing. Saturation is unnecessary for effectiveness.
  • After returning indoors, wash treated skin with soap and water.
  • Always keep insect repellents out of reach of small children.
• Dress in
• light-coloured clothing to spot ticks more easily. Wear collared long-sleeved shirts and long pants/trousers with cuffs for maximum protection. Tuck your shirt into your pants and pants into your socks or boots.
• loose clothing –  to help prevent bites from bugs that can reach their biting apparatus through tight clothing.
• Look for ticks several times during the day or before you return indoors. Check especially around the scalp, nape of the neck, behind the ears and knees, and under the armpits.
• • Remove ticks completely with tweezers or tick remover. Grasp the tick close to the skin, as close as possible to the tick’s mouth and pull outward without twisting until the mouthpart is released. Avoid the tick’s bloated abdomen, which can act like a syringe if squeezed.
  • Don’t use heat or suffocation methods. Petroleum jelly, nail polish, rubbing alcohol, cigarettes, or lighted matches will only serve to sicken the tick and may increase the chance of a host tick injecting you with dangerous bacteria.
• If bitten by an insect or tick, treat the area with a bite relief formula for relief of pain, itching, and swelling. If symptoms persist, consult a doctor.
• As some insects, especially mosquitoes, feed primarily at dawn and dusk, and sometimes throughout the night, if you are camping then if possible use a tent with adequate insect netting or sleep under a mosquito net.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised when I happened, by chance, to run into an acquaintance here in Bishkek … I say “surprised” because I knew that he was supposed to have been in the mountains helping his grandfather to collect honey from the family’s beehives.  So what was he doing in Bishkek.  It appears that he got stung by one of the bees and experienced a serious reaction so he was rushed back to the city for treatment.  He was equally surprised when he was told it was an allergic reaction because, up until then he didn’t know that he had an allergy … to anything, yet alone Bee stings.  (As he told me the story, I couldn’t help but think of the fate that befell MacCauly Culkin in My Girl.)  Fortunately, he quickly recovered … but I don’t think he’ll be helping Grandpa any more in the future.

 

Traveling with food allergies:

Another form of allergy which can be debilitating and ruin a holiday, (if not actually lethal), is when someone suffers reaction to certain foods … whether it be to Soy, Nuts, Lactose, Cholesterol, Eggs, Fish …

For those who suffer such an allergy, then the first thing to do when planning a trip is to do some research … find out what foods are likely to be available in the area so that they have an idea of what dishes to avoid ….

Secondly … tell someone.  If, they are traveling with a tour operator, then it should be stadard practice to let them know about special dietary requirements – life “No nuts” … so that they can inform the service providers along the itinerary.     In addition, without necessarily “making a fuss” about it, it would be a good idea to make sure that their traveling companions are also aware.

In addition, it’s a good idea to carry a “card” listing the “forbidden fruits” whatever they happen to be in the appropriate languages.  Not  only can this be shown to waiters in cafes and restaurants in the case of any uncertainty – it can be invaluable if an emergency does arise.

They should make sure that they carry any medication with them at all times … just in case.

It’s a good idea to carry some “user friendly” snacks – whether it be a special Granola bar or even fresh carrots or apples.   That’s fairly good advice for anyone – not just those who suffer intolerance to some particular foodstuffs.

 

Tags: Expat, For_the_Record, Health, Life_in_Kyrgyzstan, Tourism