Dengue (Waipio: farms, best, property)

[Jane M]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

Better confront it where you are ( or intent to move to) than trying to find a '100% safe' spot in the world, because they dwindle rapidly.

Well said.

You mentioned other states that will have a problem with dengue and while I will agree to that, there are some differences:

1) in all the states you mentioned, there is usually some kind of cold period that knocks mosquito population out or at least down. Even in south florida, temps can dip into low 50's now and then and that is enough to keep pests under control.

2) The other states you mentioned are way more vigilant in keeping their population informed and way more efficient at controlling vectors. This is probably because they have more $$$, but none the less. I am much more confident in the ability for Florida or Arizona or TX to do the right thing about health threats than I am in the ability of Hawaii to protect it's residents from those same health threats.

3) This third point is pure speculation, but it seems to me that people here are much more concerned about "poison" being sprayed to control the mosquitoes than dengue. It has been my observation that the feeling among residence is "if i get it, i get it. oh well. I'll just take some tylenol" I am not advocating that everyone be a worry wart, but I seems that people are abdicating responsibility for their own health. Like they rather just leave it to chance. Again, this is my observation which may be totally skewed.

[Arktikos]

Although there are now 207 documented cases in this outbreak, only six people are potentially infectious at this time, according to today's news.

[KaraBenNemsi]

Originally Posted by Blind Cleric

Although there are now 207 documented cases in this outbreak, only six people are potentially infectious at this time, according to today's news.

The quota of people who have it and don't report dengue is hard to determine. Also not known is the ratio is of not having (or having few) symptoms but are infectious carriers compared to obvious sick dengue patients.

[Arktikos]

Any thoughts about forcing people to have their properties sprayed for mosquitoes?

Recent stories indicate many residents, especially organic farmers, are refusing to allow pesticides on their properties. I can understand why an organic farmer wouldn't want to lose their certification for a period of three years over this. Maybe there should be some flexibility in this rule?

From a recent news story:

"There are some who are holding out and not allowing us to be on their property," Pressler said. "One of the things that this emergency declaration from the governor will allow us to do is that we can in fact enforce that we will come and take care of mosquitoes on a property that someone is refusing, because it is a public health emergency."

[KaraBenNemsi]

The little spraying the county is doing around the house does absolutely nothing IMHO. I offered them to spray all of my 6 acres and they refused ( I had sprayed around the house already). I told them that there are plenty of avocado shells, mac nut husks, leaves and tree holes filled with rainwater everywhere. Also pointed out the water puddles in the rusty cars my neighbor stores which could be sprayed without entering his property. They said no again. And so they walked.

Guess I am one of these irresponsible people in their statistics who needs to be forced to accept their fake attempt of eradication.

[Arktikos]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

The little spraying the county is doing around the house does absolutely nothing IMHO. I offered them to spray all of my 6 acres and they refused ( I had sprayed around the house already)..

Thanks for sharing your experience. Are you in one of the hot zones? If not, I can understand why they were reluctant to spray the entire 6 acres. If so, they were definitely remiss.

[KaraBenNemsi]

Blind Cleric, location is in South Kona, at the center of the Hot Zone, early November. At that time foreign coffee and mac nut pickers were swarming the hillsides. Heat, rain, and humidity were incessant. Skeeters everywhere. Dengue transported by pickers and farmers and school children up and down the agricultural strip btw North & South Kona (not everyone shows symptoms but distributes when infected!).

Wherever the county sent their spray trucks, tyvek clad researchers, and handed out flyers the rumor mills started:"So-and-so is sick!" "They shouldn't walk their dogs!" "Don't go near that house!" "No use their coffee/mac nut picking crew!" "Government should sent them Kalapana." Anonymous calls by strangers were made: "You sick?! Betta keep your kids away from da school!" Can't blame folks for not wanting that kind of attention.

County should've done helicopter spraying of the Honaunau state forest in the evening. Then in the early AM along the shoreline and sprayed along the HWY and county roads at noon. The daily shifting wind patterns would have nicely drifted the pesticide through the whole hot zone with no private property or organic farm 'officially' affected.

[WaikikiBoy]

Originally Posted by KaraBenNemsi

Blind Cleric, location is in South Kona, at the center of the Hot Zone, early November. At that time foreign coffee and mac nut pickers were swarming the hillsides. Heat, rain, and humidity were incessant. Skeeters everywhere. Dengue transported by pickers and farmers and school children up and down the agricultural strip btw North & South Kona (not everyone shows symptoms but distributes when infected!).

Wherever the county sent their spray trucks, tyvek clad researchers, and handed out flyers the rumor mills started:"So-and-so is sick!" "They shouldn't walk their dogs!" "Don't go near that house!" "No use their coffee/mac nut picking crew!" "Government should sent them Kalapana." Anonymous calls by strangers were made: "You sick?! Betta keep your kids away from da school!" Can't blame folks for not wanting that kind of attention.

County should've done helicopter spraying of the Honaunau state forest in the evening. Then in the early AM along the shoreline and sprayed along the HWY and county roads at noon. The daily shifting wind patterns would have nicely drifted the pesticide through the whole hot zone with no private property or organic farm 'officially' affected.

I have read that there have been no new reported cases for a couple weeks now and they feel they are getting it under control. Is that the same information you are hearing there on the ground ?

[hotzcatz]

I'd heard a news report, too, that the dengue outbreak was over. Not sure if Waipio valley has been opened again or not, I've not asked anyone.

[Irish Eyes_Mrs. Z]

Originally Posted by hotzcatz

I'd heard a news report, too, that the dengue outbreak was over. Not sure if Waipio valley has been opened again or not, I've not asked anyone.

It was still closed the when we visited there, twice, during the 4th week of February. Of course, that was a couple of weeks ago, now. Dog knows what, if anything, has changed, there since then.