Well, it was inevitable, I imagine. My wife there in Camaguey city has now contracted the Chikungunya mosquito borne virus herself after her mother had to deal with that terrible affliction last week too. Another family member there has also contracted Chikungunya as well. Apparently both Chikungunya and the Dengue viruses are at epidemic proportions there in Cam. The Chikungunya virus is known as the BONE BREAKER virus, because it attacks your joints and your bones with severe pain that can last for several months even after all of the other symptoms has subsided.

My wife told me that there's a third mosquito borne virus making the rounds too, although nobody knows what it is. That virus provides for all of the other same typical symptoms... fever, diarrhea, stomach cramps, and body aches - but apparently it also makes your body blow up like a balloon too. As if they needed anything else there to contend with.

I think it goes without saying, BUT - take your DEET products with you if you'll be visiting Cuba any time soon. And apply it religiously multiple times per day. That's what I'll be doing in December when I'll be there. Terry

Apply your DEET to also help thwart the other mosquito borne virus now running amuck across Cuba too - the Oropouche virus. Apparently, like Dengue, there's no vaccine available for either of those 2 viruses.

I've been doing a lot of talking with my wife there in Camaguey - she's told me that her symptoms from contracting the Chikungunya virus are absolutely horrendous! Fever of 38 degrees Celcius, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rashes (hives), body swelling, loss of taste, completely red eyes, and joint and bone pain that's indeed equivalent to the intensity of having bones broken. She's in so much pain that she can't even dress herself or undress herself - she needs our daughter there to help her with doing everything, even the most simple of tasks. Her hands are so swollen that she can't make fists for her to hold eating utensils, or even to hold a glass of water to drink. That Chikungunya virus is PURE EVIL.

BUT! There is a vaccine available for the Chikungunya virus available here in Canada. It costs $300 Canadian dollars when paid out of pocket. Most insurance plans won't cover any portion of that cost. I wasn't going to make that investment myself until I heard what my wife had to say about all of those symptoms that she's now experiencing. I've now obviously changed my mind. Apparently one can expect to go through the same sort of symptoms after receiving that Chikunguna vaccination - I knew there had to be a catch! But that hell will only be for 2 days. In my opinion, it's better to go through that hell HERE in Canada for 2 days, than to go through all of those completely debilitating symptoms there in Cuba for a week or more... especially the bone and joint aches that can persist for several months afterwards too making it difficult to even walk. My recommendation to anyone traveling to Cuba within the interior this winter is to also get that Chikungunya vaccination as well... regardless of cost. One should have the vaccination 4 to 6 weeks before traveling to Cuba, which means time is now of the essence for me personally to get it soon. Terry

Good idea to get the shot Terry. One less thing to worry about. I hope your wife gets better soon.

I have worked outdoors in many parts of Canada and have had to deal with pesky mosquitoes often. Natural repellents are the wind, fans, cool air even a/c and just plain wearing long sleeves. I rarely use spray repellents but when dealing with these more severe mosquito problems such as what is going on in parts of Cuba I would use any spray or natural repellent available. I have been bit a thousand times but never had to deal with severe problems and I plan to keep it that way. Also some people attract mosquitoes more than others such as my friend Larry. I want to read up on where they have most problems with this especially tourist nclaves.

Bueno, I'm now booked to receive my Chikungunya vaccination on Wednesday, November 12th at 4:00pm. I'll be receiving the last dose available too from my local Travel Clinic - I guess others in my area who might also want to get that vaccination too will need to have that Chikungunya vaccine ordered in special for them - I have no idea about the wait time for that. I had mentioned before that the out of pocket cost to me would be $300 for my jab, but it will actually be a total of $380, with the extra $80 bones necessary to cover the cost of the preliminary consultation that day.

Given the reported brutal side-effect symptoms that I'm sure to be experiencing soon after receiving that Chikungunya vaccine - pray for me. Terry

OK! Just to catch you all up... in the end, I didn't get the Chikungunya vaccination after all. I went to the clinic to get it... but the doctor there wouldn't give it to me because I'm 67 years of age - apparently, the cutoff is 65 years old. He told me that if he gave it to me at my age, that could actually KILL ME! jajaja But he probably said that just to shut me up when still begging for it - at least that's what my family doctor said about that. But the doctor at the travel clinic told me that even if I was younger, I still wouldn't qualify to get it because I'm only going to Cuba for a total of 24 days, and the vaccine is really reserved for humanitarian health workers or for others who would be visiting to live there in Cuba for 6 weeks or more. Anyway, I saved myself $380 bucks - that's the upside.

I was just talking with my wife there in Camaguey this morning and she's now told me that 6 other family members have also recently contracted the Chikungunya virus and are all now going through the same debilitating symptoms that my wife is going through there too. It's a foregone conclusion that I've now DOUBLED my mosquito repellent stash for my suitcases to include 8 cans of the Deep Woods OFF with 25% DEET now - and 6 boxes of the OFF mosquito coils too. I also want to make sure that there's something leftover and left behind for my 17 year old Cuban daughter to use to help keep her safe from the Chikungunya, Dengue, and Oropouche viruses after I leave later in January. Terry

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/articl...ungunya-virus/

I have to decide soon if I am travelling to Cuba in January. Since I will be there for 3 months, I should probably get the shot.

Simon! You should do it if you can. I don't qualify because of my age, but I'm now assuming that you're somewhat younger than me. Apparently, if you either contract the Chikungunya virus naturally, or you get the vaccination for it, you'll never need to worry about that Chikungunya virus ever again. Your immunization is then good for life. But I know which way I'd prefer! I've joked with my wife that she's now been vaccinated the hard way - that joke went over like a led balloon, especially with the way she's feeling there now. But given that we have the technology here in Canada, where Cuba doesn't, I'd say go for it, Simon.

I can't get the vaccination, but my Cuban daughter can when she'll be 18 years old and visiting Canada next summer for the first time. I'll pay for that for her - no hay problema. Unless she contracts that damned Chikunguna virus there beforehand, of course. We're all trying to keep her safe now one way or the other. Terry

CCO, from those fotos of you that I periodically saw on TA, I would have figured you to be a man of mere 33 years.
It sounds like you will be entering a war zone as far as those moskitter viruses go. I wish you luck and hope the fans and DEET will take care of you. Of course, some people get bitten more than others and I am one of those who gets bitten a lot more than others it seems. I have always believe that it was from being someone who consumes a lot of sugar. That and my extraordinary natural body odour that not only attracts insects, but womens from all o'ver the world, and a fair amount of wildlife as well. Let's see what the experts have to say...

Why Are Some People Tastier to Mosquitoes Than Others?

jajaja Well thank you, CubanWaters. I'm certainly 67 (68 in February), and I might look like I'm only 33 based on your wild, but much appreciated imagination, but in my heart, in my head, and in my soul, I'll always remain like Bryan Adams - 18 'till I die. Perhaps that affords me a bit of more youthful appearance - think young, and you'll be young! Mind over matter... or over father time. Something like that anyway.

It's funny that you used that description - that I'll be entering a war zone with the skitters there to keep my company. I've been using that same description too when talking with others about my December trip to the pearl of the Caribbean that's fast approaching. But I have a theory - I've been going to Cuba for over 20 years, sometimes up to 6 times per year, and I've been there during every month in the year too multiple times. I've been there when other epidemics have been raging - typically Dengue. But I've never contracted Dengue in Cuba during all of that time spent there.

OK! So here comes the theory part. Now remember! I'm not an alcoholic, but I do love my booze. Some people might say, you don't need alcohol to have a good time. But you don't need running shoes to run either - however they certainly DO make it easier. So when I'm in Cuba, you'll always find me with a glass of rum in my hand, or a can or bottle of beer, and having soooooo much fun too of course! As my father used to always say - it's 12:00 noon somewhere in the world! Which means that you'll always find me well pickled in Cuba as well. CubanWaters, I think those mosquitoes know me well. I think they come flying into that back terrace of our casa, and they talk amoungst themeselves, saying... you see that guy over there? Don't touch that guy, because his blood will kill you instantly! I don't know, CW. They seem to leave me alone. I have no other explanation other than that, because unlike this next trip coming up in December, I typically NEVER bring bug repellent with me to coat myself in that foul smelling chemical. Like I said, it's a theory. All I can tell you and everyone else is to DRINK HEAVILY when there. Works for me.

Now that's not to say that I've never been bitten by mosquitoes when in Cuba. I've been bitten so many times over the years that I don't even know when I've been bitten anymore. I don't feel them bite me, and I don't itch afterwards either. I've become immune to all of that. But I'm not so cynical or flippant to believe that I have some kind of super power over Dengue, Chikungunya, or Oropouche. No! No! No! Hence, the reason why I'm taking all of the precautions that I can with bringing the mosquito repellents this time. I'll certainly be stinky. But I'll also be a lot safer when having soooooo much fun there again too. Terry

You can use Picaridin (aka icaridin) instead. Colorless, odorless, easy to apply.

Thanks for the tip, kja. But I've already bought my Deep Woods OFF - 8 cans now. At least the mosquitoes will smell me coming as well. Terry

Gheez Terry, I never knew that getting plastered was an antidote for bug bites and with 8 cans in your bags coming to Cuba, you could start your own fumigation business in Camagüey city.

I have never taken bug spray to Cuba before but this time, I think I will. I see that there are 100ml bottles of DEET spray for sale. Not sure how much I will need it in Havana but a little extra protection never hurt anybody. I just wish there was a people spray for panhandlers... Jjjjj.

I remember many years ago staying over at my galfriends house in Cuba and waking up in the morning with a face full of skitter bites. That was one time that I was worried about catching a nasty bite of dengue or what not. I looked like I had just left a rumble.

One of my funnest memories in Cuba was staying on the beach just outside of Havana almost 20 years ago. The small resort was beside a river/ marsh and the mosquito problem was unbearable, especially for me. My fellow travellers and the resort staff just could not get over the sight of my bloody legs covered in bites. The solution was to visit the nurse each day and to get her to rub some sort of lotion all over my legs. The nurse and I developed a spiritual bond and after my sessions, we would stand outside the office, facing towards the pool. raise our fists to the air and shout; Hasta la Victoria siempre!! so that all could hear us, moskitters included!

🐞🐝🐜🕷

jajajaja Muy gracioso historias, CubanWaters! I always love your stories! But about the mosquitoes - as I had mentioned earlier, there should be plenty of that mosquito spray and the mosquito coils leftover after I leave and for my wife and daughter there to continue using to get them through to next summer when they'll then be traveling to Canada to be here with me. I wish I could afford to bring even more for them. Pero, no soy millonario. Terry

Had a good conversation with Bob Michaels in Florida today on the phone - he's definitely going through the worst of what that chikungunya virus can throw at a person. But he's alive and working through it. Apparently his wife in Cuba also contracted the chikungunya too. CubanWaters, I did mention the Fodor's Cuba forum to Bob. We might just see him over here yet. I hope so. Bob would be a great addition to the line up here, and also help to create more back and forth traffic. As you can tell, I've certainly been doing my best with helping to post at least something daily myself. Not sure where everyone else has gone though. Terry

I'm gonna post a foto of the bug spray I bought today and will take down to Cuba. Like I said, I have never taken bug spray to Cuba before and to tell the truth, I can't even remember the last time that I used bug spray, being a city dweller and all.

Both bottles are made from the same company. I will post the fotos on a separate posting in case they get deleted.

The first bottle is Deet 25% proof.
The second bottle is Icairdin 20% proof and lasts up to 12 hours it says. That's good in case I get tipsy and forget to put me bug spray on.

I think Bob would really enjoy the foto posting ability of this site. I have had success in getting people to join but not stay for some reason. I became fed up with TA years ago.

I like to think of this forum as being similar to LP's Thorntree. It's about quality Terry, not quantity.

Tell me what you think about these 2 bottles I bought. Hopefully that, the after-bite product, the chewing gum, and the corn callus cushions will do me fine. I like to get out and about you know!

HA! My father's favourite for fighting not only the mosquitoes, but the black flies too up in northern Ontario on fly-in fishing trips. Stinks to high-heavens, but that Muskol definitely works. One thing's for sure, CW - the jineteros will leave you alone when you're there in Havana. It's rumored that it works good on them too.

Also, you mentioned quality, not quantity. While I agree that, in concept, that makes sense, I don't think there's anything "quality" about any ONE of my individual posts. However, on the sum total, I'd like to think that I can be a quality poster - someone who others can always rely on to share an intimate experience or perception of all things Cuba. But there seems to be almost no comment on anything that I post though - not much back and forth. Hence why I want to begin posting some fotos if possible. A foto is worth a thousand words. If after posting my fotos, and others have questions about them, that's when I'd be pleased to share the back-story. I certainly don't want the Fodor's Cuba forum to turn into anything that resembles the chaotic and extremely petty - no ketchup in the buffet - nonsense that you mentioned earlier of TA, but something has to be done to create more excitement here, providing reasons for people to keep coming back for more. I think I now understand why this forum has been struggling. So quality, not quantity?? What a wonderful world it would be if we could all collectively aspire to help create both on here... mi dos centavos. Terry

Maybe if I mix some of that Muskol with my favourite aftershave, I will have the winning combination for keeping the gals around but the skitters at bay and hopefully not vice versa.

ok

Cubanwaters, the 2nd bottle in your photo is non-deet Icaridan and as kja posted #11, it is odourless. Good that you bought one each to try. It is a bit worrisome all the bad news about mosquito problems but the dry season in Cuba is upon us.