We have flights/hotels for an October trip to Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, and Hanoi/Halong Bay. What is the dengue fever risk in these areas? Anything special or certain activities we should avoid?
Thanks for any input on this issue.

Just left Siem Reap today. There is a lot of dengue right now...not sure what the situation will be in October. Use mosquito repellent at all times...dengue mosquito bites in day, more when it is cloudy than when it's sunny and malaria mosquito bites at night.

We had good luck getting only 1 bite between the 3 of us over 6 days in and around Siem Reap, one of which was spent at a waterfall in a national park way out in the forest with lots of mossies and other insects.

There is an appeal for blood in the chidren's hospital...my husband gave (I can not).

Dengue is endemic in all of SE Asia. There has been a larger than usual outbreak this year. Remember that the mosquitoes that carry dengue are most active during the day, while the type that carry malaria are most active from dusk to dawn. So you need to take precautions at all times. Make sure you carry repellant with you to reapply as needed.

PS The hospital in SIem Reap is always requesting blood donors, so it's not related to the surge in dengue this year.

The hospital has a big sign outside requesting blood urgently because of severe outbreak of hemorrhagic dengue fever, especially types B and AB...a special sign, not the usual one requesting blood donors.

That one was up in December too!

Yes the sign was outside the hospital in Oct last year too. Dengue is a problem in that area every year.
Have a fantastic trip
J

That same sign was up when I was there in 2001. I was under the impression from friends who have visited in the years since and from posts on Thorntree that the sign about needing blood donors because of Dengue was always displayed.

And I thought it was extra special need...oh well....the appeal works at least.

Kim - What was your impression of the new Hospital out on route 6 near the airport. My understanding is that the old one has closed.

Kim it is an extra special need in that dengue is such an issue there and they do not have stores of blood so each year they have to try and ward off a crisis. It is great your husband could dontate.
J

When we took shots for Borneo and Central Java our immunologist recommended using 90-100% DEET all over you body including hair 3 times a day, including before bed. She said that while it is not wise to use for extended periods, for 7-10 days it will not cause any harm unless you have any open cuts, sores, etc.

I volunteered at the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap right in the lab where the tiny blood bank is back in January for over 2 weeks and here's the story: yes, the Dengue Fever is horrible this year, the worst epidemic they have seen in years. The reason they advertise for donors is a) visitors like to donate and comprise a huge number of total donors the hospital gets each year and b) the lab can't afford the equipment it needs to separate out adult size units of blood into several smaller pediatric units without out-dating (expiring) the blood alot faster than we have to in westernized hospitals. So they have to discard much more blood than they would like to and the need is constant. If you can donate about $15,000 to the Angkor Hospital for Children, this donation would buy the equipment they need to keep single adult size units of blood useful for much longer with much less waste. Go to fwab.org (the parent fundraising organization) and you'll see how to donate to this very, very worthwhile hospital.

Kim, I'd say that they always have a special need for blood donors. It's great that your husband was able to donate. Dengue has long been a problem in this area, and I understand that this year is especially bad.

Stan, I find the advise from your doctor to be curious. 90-100% deet is not meant for application to the skin. At concentrations of 50% it reaches its maxium effectiveness, and without the higher risk of skin irritations and reactions.

If you are sleeping indoors in an air-conditioned room, there is no need to apply it at night.

Don't mean ti hijack but is this prevelant in Thailand? I'm a mosquito magnet, makes me a bit nervous.

Also, is there a particular time of year when risk is greater/lesser? VHS.

Yes, it's prevalent in Thailand and the rest of SE Asia. There are outbreaks in many tropical places (even Hawaii). All you can do is prevent mosquito bites.

I was wondering if they can use RH negative type blood. I was told by a few people that the entire population in China is RH positive. Is it the same in Cambodia?

KarrieMc

Thanks for the info. It's great that you could volunteer.

Skittle, yes, Rh negative blood can be given to anyone (usually) and yes, most (close to 100% I think) of the Cambodian population is Rh positive (whereas here in the States, its more like 85% or so. You can give Rh negative blood to an Rh positive person but usually not the reverse without potential complications. So give here and give there!!