Dengue in Thailand
 

We're traveling w/ kids to Bangkok and Northern Thailand in August. Thanks to fellow posters, we are okay about going during the rainy season. However, we're now concerned about dengue - the British press has reported that there is a massive outbreak. Any inside info?

I think you summed it up with "British Press"! Remember more people suffered from SARS in Germany than in Thailand!

1 person has died in the north. Local people eople who live in the tropics very rarely take any precautions whatsoever against getting bitten by mozzies. However as travellers you should take the standard normal precautions required wherever you travel in the world and protecting yourself from getting bitten by mozzies is one of them.

i have to add that it is all press...can't do with them our without them however...but take what they say at 50% or less...

same thing with attorneys (gpanda are you reading this)

Hey Bob, Andy isn't the only attorney on this forum. I think I'm insulted ;-)

Insect repellent on exposed skin during the day (for dengue mossies) and dusk-to-dawn (for malaria mossies).

There are actually dengue outbreaks in many places in the world - including Hawaii! As Sandi says, the type of mosquito that carries dengue is active during the day, so use repellant. Also, the type of mosquito that carries dengue is more prevalent in cities than in the countryside. This, of course, is the opposite of mosquitos that carry ,malaria, which are active dusk to dawn and more prevalent in the countryside. By the way, only very limited areas of

oops! too soon

Only very limited areas of Thailand are considered malarial risk. The far north (Golden Triangle area, for instance) is one of those areas. But the areas around Chaing Mai are not malarial risk.