Dengue Fever outbreak in St. Maarten?

[mexico5]

Hi, just read the St. Maarten port of call board and there is currently an outbreak of Dengue Fever there (in the last few weeks) where 50 people have it, with two who have died.

 

Besides taking some spray with DEET in it, any other suggestions? Perhaps just stay in town and not go off the beaten path too much?

 

I am to go there next week on Crown Princess (unless the weather still impacts our ports) and was just wondering about this.

 

Thanks!

 

4 more days!

[martinchem]

Scarey thought, We'll be there in january!

[amapola]

Dengue is endemic throughout the Caribbean. For cruiseship visitors, who typically spend only a few hours, the exposure risk is not terribly high. The Aedes aegypti mosquito is most active during the early morning and late afternoon hours, and it's quite common in urban areas. You really don't need to be overly worried about it. Just use the DEET repellent liberally. HTH!

 

The following info is from the CDC webiste http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentDengueTropicalSubTropical.aspx

 

Prevention Measures for Travelers

No vaccine is available to prevent dengue, and there is no specific medicine to cure people who are sick with dengue. Those who become ill with dengue fever can be offered medications (acetaminophen) to reduce fever and may require oral rehydration or intravenous fluids and in severe cases, treatment to support their blood pressure.

Travelers can reduce their risk of getting dengue fever by protecting themselves from mosquito bites. Aedes mosquitoes, the main type of mosquito that spreads dengue, usually are active at dusk and dawn, but may feed at any time during the day, especially indoors, in shady areas, or when the weather is cloudy. Unlike malaria, dengue is often transmitted in urban as well as in rural areas. Recommendations for preventing mosquito bites include:

• Use insect repellent on uncovered skin surfaces when outdoors, especially during the day. When using sunscreen, apply it before insect repellent.
  • Repellents containing 30% to 50% DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide) are recommended for adults and children over 2 months of age and effective for several hours. Repellents with lower amounts of DEET offer shorter-term protection and must be applied more often.
    
  • Repellents containing up to 15% picaridin, which must be applied often, are available in the US. Repellents with higher concentrations of picaridin may be available in some regions outside the US.
    
  • Protect infants less than 2 months of age by using a carrier draped with mosquito netting with an elastic edge for a tight fit. For more information about the use of repellent on infants and children, please see the “Insect and Other Arthropod Protection” section in Traveling Safely with Infants and Children and the “Children” section of CDC’s Frequently Asked Questions about Repellent Use.

  [*]Wear loose, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors.

  • Clothing may also be sprayed with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent for greater protection. (Remember: don't use permethrin on skin.)

  [*]Where possible, stay in hotels or resorts that are well screened or air conditioned and take measures to reduce the mosquito population.

[caber]

What would I get with Deet in it in Britain?

I usually take the Avon Skin so Soft spray which keeps the mosquitos and other insects at bay. Would this be enough?:confused:

[mexico5]

Thanks for the info from the website! We will bring our "Off" with DEET in it...

 

I have never seen a mosquito on my beach vacations, but my husband does not want to take any chances!

 

Thanks!