Marmot lives in Indonesia, so her risks are a bit different than the rest of us.

Ken, In answer to your question about my encounter with dengue: I live in Bali so no trip was disrupted. I was flat out for two weeks -- high fever, headache so severe it hurt to breathe, general ache-y unwellness. It was about a month before I regained my normal (high) energy level. No after effects.

Kathie: Thanks for this info, but the symptoms and how it impacts ones travels or life after dengue would still, I think, be the same as for the rest of us. Hopefully we will hear back from Marmot with answers to my questions.

Marmot: Many thanks for the info - I think we just crossed in cyberspace!

Ken, my understanding (from a friend who livesin Cambodia) is that Dengue is not usually fatal when contracted by well nourished people with access to decent health care. The hemoragic (sp?) version would of course be of concern when taking blood thinners. I think careful attention to using repellant and additional covered clothing is the key, and the odds are pretty good that your won't get it on your trip if you take care.

Also, you are going at the end of the dry season, so even less mosquitoes issues than in other times of the year.

Icuy: Many thanks for your input.

While on the subject of mosquitos, I am wondering what people prefer for protection in terms of repellent. Last time we needed good overall coverage used 3M ultrathon 34 Percent DEET and hated the feel of it. But it did work. What's you preference.

I'd also love to know what DEET products people use. Also, can they be bought in Thailand?

I quit using DEET after it dissolved my watch strap... I rely on covering up, and staying in places with AC and functioning doors and windows.

Deet will melt plastics and synthetics. While deet is the most effective repellant, picardin also gets the cdc's seal of approval. There are time-release deet preparations that are very effective.

Since the mosquitos that carry dengue are active during the day, staying in places that have AC doesn't help as much as it does for malaria.

I use Lifesystems Expedition Plus 100. I bought a 250ml bottle and decant it into a smaller 100ml spray bottle and dilute to 50% for use on skin. Thursdaysd make a good point re dissolving watch straps. It is vicious stuff! keep away from plastics etc. I always make a point of washing hands before using cameras, iPads etc.

Based on this article (pdf format) from the CDC the biting behavior is not limited to the daytime only:

Dengue and the Aedes aegypti mosquito - Centers for Disease ...

http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/resources/...eet.pdf‎

“ Biting Behavior Aedes aegypti bites primarily during the day. This species is most active for approximately two hours after sunrise and several hours before sunset, but it can bite at night in well lit areas. This mosquito can bite people without being noticed because it approaches from behind and bites on the ankles and elbows. Aedes aegypti prefers biting people but it also bites dogs and other domestic animals, mostly mammals. Only females bite to obtain blood in order to lay eggs.”

Hi Ken_Dell, Haven't read the whole thread, but as a frequent visitor to dengue areas, I think Lcuy's post is among the most significant here. There just isn't a big chance of mosquito action at the time of year that you're going. When we visited Thailand and Cambodia (with a day trip into Burma) in December, we saw nary a mosquito.

http://www.selectiveasia.com/cambodi.../weather/march

On the other hand, if you're going to be angst-ridden the whole time, you should choose another destination.

And...If you've done your DEET homework, you've probably heard about Jungle Formula roll on, a favorite of adventure types, available mostly in the UK. A Brit gave us some after my husband and son were eaten alive in Belize, and then we stocked up at Boots in Heathrow (which also has some great anti-itch cream). The Jungle Formula is now available on Amazon in the U.S. - probably the kind that melts plastics, but many travelers swear by it (much discussion on TA):

http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Formula...ormula+roll+on

Hi crosscheck: Many thanks for your input and the link to the nifty weather map. I guess I didn't do a good job with my homework as I did not know about Jungle Formula. A little more homework and I see that is is 50% DEET - I did find a little discussion on TripAdvisor UK and .com but not really that much - do you perhaps have a link?

Hi Ken-dell, Just go on the TA forum and do a "jungle formula repellent" search, both with and without quotes. Good luck with your trip planning, and let us know what you decide.

A bit about Mozzie natural history.....
Contrary to popular belief, dengue-carrying mosquitoes do not strike only during the rainy season, nor do they bite only during the day.

There are 2 main species in Thailand that carry the Dengue virus - Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus.

The former is known as a daytime biter - the main risk times are morning and evening - The latter is a nighttime and daytime biter, in fact both will bite at night given the opportunity. So don’t get complacent at night! It also looks as if the mosquitoes are extending their hours further into the heat of the day.
Some people are undoubtedly more attractive to mosquitoes, but on the other hand some people simple don’t react so much to the bites - they don’t itch or swell at all......so just because you can’t see/feel a bite don’t assume you aren’t being bitten.

Use repellents by all means but not under your clothes - put as directed onto your skin or outside of your clothing.

Basically the mozzies are quite small (very fast too!) and are unlikely to penetrate your clothing, so one of the best ways to protect yourself is to cover up.....if you notice a lot of mozzies in your area, perhaps a mozzie net? You can buy them in most supermarkets.

Morning and evenings especially, try wearing long trousers and long sleeved garments; socks are good too - mosquitoes (females only) want your blood so they go to areas of your body where it is most accessible; wrists and ankles are particularly good.

Check the windows where you stay - do they have mozzie screens? I would also invest in some spray. I find it useful to spray a room before I go out in the evening so I come back to a mozzie-free room that doesn’t stink too much.
Some mozzie coils are effective both inside and outdoors, but I wouldn’t leave one in my room overnight.

These mosquitoes aren’t just restricted to the rainy season - in Thailand they breed in varying numbers all year round. As said they need very little water to hatch their eggs. You just have to check wherever you are to see if there are a lot of mozzies about.

A dengue mozzie has to bit an infected person and then incubate and carry the virus to another person. They have a flight range of only 200 meters or so, this means that the disease is much more easily spread in areas where people are close together. ..e.g Cities...places with insufficient infrastructure like refugee camps are also particularly susceptible.

They also like to hang in shady places - direct sun would dehydrate them - so in human areas, they like to “hide” under furniture or in hanging washing - give both a spray to dislodge any hidden guests.

..and yes - any form of “blood-thinning” agent is a no-no if you contract the disease.
At present there is no cure or vaccine - all you can do is get to bed, drink fluids and apparently some pain killers like Paracetamol are OK - don’t take aspirin!

Don't believe any "quack" cures you may hear and when it comes to "kitchen cupboard" repellents - even the ones that work do so for much shorter periods than DEET picaridin etc.....and can get washed off by accident - sweat etc....

Hi crosscheck: thanks - I will let you know what I decide - only leave late Feb and have relatively flexible air and land.

khunwilko: thanks for the summation

BTW - More is not necessarily better! - DEET applications containing over about 30% concentration have been shown to be no more effective than at this level.