Travelers Advisory in Effect for Latin America and Caribbean for Dengue Fever

Hi Everyone,
We had planned to return to Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Just after I had finalized our airline schedule and was trying to send our deposit to the resort on Virgin Gorda, my husband came across the article below. Needless to say, we cancelled both our reservation at the resort and our airline reservation. Travelers Advisories from the Center of Disease Control are not to be taken lightly. Here is the article.

Dengue fever spreads in L. America and Caribbean; officials plan crisis talksProvided by: Canadian Press
Written by: Michael Melia, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sep. 29, 2007


SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - Dengue fever is spreading across Latin America and the Caribbean in one of the worst outbreaks in decades, causing agonizing joint pain for hundreds of thousands of people and killing nearly 200 so far this year.

The mosquitoes that carry dengue are thriving in expanded urban slums scattered with water-collecting trash and old tires. Experts say dengue is approaching record levels this year as many countries enter their wettest months.

"If we do not slow it down, it will intensify and take a greater social and economic toll on these countries," said Dr. Jose Luis San Martin, head of anti-dengue efforts for the Pan American Health Organization, a regional public health agency.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has posted advisories this year for people visiting Latin American and Caribbean destinations to use mosquito repellant and stay inside screened areas whenever possible.

"The danger is that the doctors at home don't recognize the dengue," said Dr. Wellington Sun, the chief of the CDC's dengue branch in San Juan. "The doctors need to raise their level of suspicion for any traveler who returns with a fever."

Dengue has already damaged the economies of countries across the region by driving away tourists, according to a document prepared for a PAHO conference beginning Monday in Washington.

Some countries have focused mosquito eradication efforts on areas popular with tourists. Mexico sent hundreds of workers to the resorts of Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Acapulco this year to try to avert outbreaks.

Health ministers from across the region meet at the PAHO conference and San Martin said he will urge them to devote more resources to dengue fever.

The tropical virus was once thought to have been nearly eliminated from Latin America, but it has steadily gained strength since the early 1980s. Now, officials fear it could emerge as a pandemic similar to one that became a leading killer of children in Southeast Asia following the Second World War.

Officials say the virus is likely to grow deadlier in part because tourism and migration are circulating four different strains across the region. A person exposed to one strain may develop immunity to that strain - but subsequent exposure to another strain makes it more likely the person will develop the hemorrhagic form.

"The main concern is what's happening in the Americas will recapitulate what has happened in Southeast Asia, and we will start seeing more and more severe types of cases of dengue as time progresses," Sun said.

The disease - known as "bonebreak fever" because of the pain - can incapacitate patients for as long as a week with flu-like symptoms. A deadly hemorrhagic form, which also causes internal and external bleeding, accounts for less than five per cent of cases but has shown signs of growing.

Thanks L.L. for making us aware of the article. We have just returned from a wonderful holiday yet again in Dubai and are looking for our next one. I have actually been looking at these areas so now i think I may hold off or choose a completely different destination. Now that you have decided not to go ahead with BVI, where do you think you will go?



Mary-j

Hi LH. Thanks for the update. I hate to see that you cancelled the trip though. Dengue Fever has been in the Caribbean and Central America for some time. I do believe there have been instances of it in the States. Your post also relates to previous posts which we discussed the best protection to avoid bites.



I highly recommend Skintastic and Cutters Advance to keep the bitees away. If it is really rainy and you are in a high buggy area, use Deep Woods Off. (but please use only a little.) Avon Skin So Soft is a nice lotion to put on when the bugs aren't so bad. If you are in the sun and buggy area (such as the rain forest or some more remote Latin American locations) I recommend Avons Bug and Sun lotion with SPF (I believe it is only a sun screen and not a sun block.)



We just returned from Virgin Gorda and had only minor bug bugs.(mostly the No-seeums). We used the above and then applied Cortaid if we got bit. We are heading to Central America in November and January and I will be sure to stock up because of this updated alert.



I hope that people will still consider Central America and the Caribbean for their holiday travels yet making sure they have the appropriate protection.



On this same note, we live in Central Pennsylvania and have not had a lot of rain this season so far. However, we have a pond up the street which has bought in KILLER size mosquitos! When I go to the garden to pick my tomatoes, I need full body gear to avoid bites!!!

Hi LH,

Obviously, your health is important and it is your decision to make but I'm with Bonniejoy, I don't think the information about dengue fever is cause for alarm. I think perhaps that article your husband came across is a bit alarmist. Here's what the information at cdc.gov (in part) says:

"Currently, an outbreak of dengue is being reported in French Polynesia and Palau in the South Pacific. Singapore is also experiencing an increase in dengue cases this year. As of June 30, 2007, the outbreak of dengue in Paraguay was reported to be subsiding. Other areas in South and Central America and the Caribbean, such as Brazil, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico, are experiencing an increase in dengue cases in 2007."

Any guidebook for any of these regions lists Dengue fever as a possible health issue. The information you posted mentioned that it is most common in the slums....I would imagine that is far from your destination of travel! We just returned from southeast Asia, where dengue fever is also a possibility - you need to take precautions anywhere you travel, keep covered, use bug spray, etc. Any tropical area in the world is going to have some sort of mosquito-transported danger. Chances are low that you will contract it, and if you do at least you are aware of the danger and can bring it to a physician's attention quickly. Unfortunately the people living in the slums don't have such knowledge or resources...that's really where the danger lies. 200 killed and thousands affected sounds bad....but keep in mind that's for Central and South America, population millions! Chances are exceedingly low that you or your husband would be affected.

This newspaper story mentions that these areas are being hurt economically by a decrease in visits by tourists due to the news. I just hope that too many people aren't needlessly scared off from visiting anywhere tropical every again!

As we're going to the BVIs next month, I read this information with some interest. We have visited a travel medicine clinic a number of times when travelling to Latin America and more remote areas. There's always something! If we're going to travel (and we are!) we take the precautions our physicians advise and then go. As discussed elsewhere, I appreciate the advice on how to combat insects in the Carribean. I'll certainly post a report when we return.

Hi Disneygal...aren't you heading to Guana Island in November? We were just in Virgin Gorda in September and we were hoping to boat over there to check it out. Please tell us about your trip. Also, please check out if they have tennis courts there? If they have day trips and you haven't experienced The Baths in Virgin Gorda, check it out. Also, ask around about the new developments that we heard about. We hear that Mosquito Island might be made into a resort by Branson????Also, there is talk of a golf course on Beef Island. As I say in all posts, visit some of these more remote places now before they become too developed.

Thanks for the info LH but I agree that it is too bad that you cancelled your trip. Virgin Gorda is paradise - as all the Carribean. Hey we live in Wisconsin though so we are definitely used to misquitos and all the prevention of bites. We go to the Carribean every year - for over 15 years now and I've gone prior to that for another 15 years LOVE THE CARRIBEAN! I think Bonneyjoy has the right idea - Hurry - go while it is still unspoiled. Turks and caicos is going to be builkt up soon! I'd like to go to Anegada - where there is very little in the way of resorts - There is something to be said for the peace and quiet of an off the beaten path - unlike so many beaches that are now wall to wall high rise hotels. Barbados and St John are our favorites!!! happy travels ...Funtimes