Dengue in the Florida Keys?
 

Hi mom23rugrats

Just to point out that the cases were all between April & September on that graph, when the Keys are at their muggiest. Since you'll be there in December, this shouldn't be an issue at all, I would think.

Daniel

We're not worried...

We braved Dengue and worse in Bocas del Toro, Panama last year and Costa Rica the year before. I'm sure FL will not be a problem.

I just found it interesting... There hasn't been a case of Dengue reported in FL since 1934 and it's show up again as far north as Miami.

It's back! Transmitted by mossies, and unfortunately there is no inoculation. Unlike the malaria mossies, that bite from dust-to-dawn, these are raising hell during daytime hours. So one has to use repellent on all exposed skin (except face/back of neck) and preferably long pants and sleeves.

What has to be done is that their larvae have to be killed and unfortunately what does it best is DDT which is a no-no. Though DDT is what killed the malaria mossies in the States years-back. So besides coming up with inoculations (they've been working on this for years, especially for malaria), they also have to come up with a spray that is more farmer or whomever is protesting use of DDT, instead.

Whether it's dry or wet season, wet is worse, but doesn't mean the dry season will kill them.

We go to Key West a couple of times a year, and before we went last (in early May) the report about dengue had come out. We asked my husband's surgeon whether to worry about it, and he pretty much issued a flat "no."

I'm in touch with Key West - both locals and frequent visitors - regularly, and no one there is worried either.

"I'm in touch with Key West - both locals and frequent visitors - regularly, and no one there is worried either."

Just because they are not worried doesn't mean it's not a problem. Only time will tell.

"We asked my husband's surgeon whether to worry about it, and he pretty much issued a flat "no.""


What did he base his NO on? Just curious.

Here's a recent article in NYT that you may find interesting:

"Dengue Fever? What About It, Key West Says"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/24/he...ngue%20&st=cse