Dengue (Hilo, Captain Cook: 2013, renters, violent crime)

[BasicallyTori]

Hello,


Re-direct me if I am starting a thread that has already been started, as I haven't seen one. I am coming out Jan 8th and would like to here what the status is. I have been on the punaweb forum and hear people have dengue fever in HPP, where I will be staying...I have read it's all over the island. 176 confirmed cases. The likely hood of becoming infected is rather low right? Using mosquito repellent and keeping areas free of stagnant water is the advice correct? How is everyone doing with this outbreak?


Thanks for reading,


Tori

[Grassyknoll]

Seems like the hype in the news has slowed down a bit in the last few weeks. Yes, the paper updates the daily count of confirmed infections and the TV news has an occasional blurb, but really, my family doesn't give it much thought. My wife and I both work in Captain Cook, which is a Dengue hot-spot. We use repellent in the morning but that's about it. Funny story, I caught a bout of the flu 3 weeks back, I have to admit Dengue did cross my mind a few times until I started to get over it.

To me, it's not much different that the West Nile hype that goes around in California where I used to live. Educate, take basic precautions and then get on with your life. Other than one of my favorite beaches being indefinitely closed (Ho'okena), it really hasn't impacted my life.

[KaraBenNemsi]

It's hyped up for the folks who haven't gotten it. The ones who had sing a different song.

A neighbor and his wife got it and he was down for a week, she is in her 4th week already and still not completely over it (fatigue, anxiety, fever, then massive depression, bone pain, dizziness, hair loss now). Tricky thing is that not everybody gets it in the same way. Some don't even have symptoms and can spread it for a whole week especially if they work on different farms or are landscapers for different properties.

We have strain 1 in Hawaii, but there are 3 other ones out there in other countries/regions. If you get infected with one you are immune to the same strain but not to the other 3! Actually the other 3 become now much more dangerous to you and you may die of inner bleeding once you get infected by them. So if you plan to travel a lot to the tropics, avoid getting any dengue by always spraying DEET on you. At least till a decent vaccine is being developed.

If you are a Puna WOOFER or yoga workshop participant and they'll house you in a leaky tent with a swampy shower and dripping toilet--just don't go now. If you are in a screened room plus mosquito net and proper plumbing just douse yourself in DEET 3x a day and you'll be fine.

[Jane M]

Hi Tori,

I am new to the Island and have been staying in south kona (honaunau specifically) for about 3 weeks. We are in the riskiest spot. I hear Puna is also a risky spot as well (although, not as much as south kona). If you can avoid staying there, I would just so you don't have to worry so much about it (if you are a massive worrier like me). If you want to stay there, then take precautions which means some of your carefree fun may be dampened a little. Try to avoid dusk and dawn hours out. Wear long sleeves, pants or skirts when you can and have a good insect repellant (about 25% -30% DEET is sufficient) to put on exposed skin areas. Don't swim with repellant on as it will wash off and I heard it harms the reefs. Shower all repellant off at night before retiring.

I think, even though cases are only trickling in now, that being cautious is the best thing to do. You REALLY don't want to get Dengue. Especially as KaraBen says, if you plan on traveling to other countries were strains are different and outbreaks are worse.

[BasicallyTori]

Hi,

Thanks for your responses. We aren't going there to vacation. We are moving there next year, and need to get some ducks in a row. Do you think it's here to stay? It seems hard to erradicate. I really appreciate all the advice. Jane M, yeah I'm a big worry wart haha.

[BasicallyTori]

Jane M,

You just moved out 3 weeks ago? I know you are in Kona, and we will be on thr Hilo side, but how is the transition going ?

[BasicallyTori]

And, grassyknoll...I would be there right with you about catching the flu, and the thought of dengue crossing my mind. Haha okay, deet it is. Thanks.

[Jane M]

Hi Tori,

Not so smoothly. We rented a house two weeks back, but the renters are unable to move into their new house b/c of escrow issues so we can't move in. We just left one accommodation and we are now in a mosquito infested B and B in south kona and I am freaking out. (see my previous post: just moved to hawaii and freaking out!).

[BasicallyTori]

Oh, that's a bummer. Well, hopefully things will get better for you. Hang in there, every rough patch has smooth sailing eventually. Keep lathering on the mosquito repellent. Where did you move from?

[whtviper1]

If it makes you feel any better - you are far more likely to be subject to a violent crime on the Big Island than Dengue Fever.

2013 a record year for violent crime | West Hawaii Today

Article is a couple of years old but you get the idea.

Protect yourselves.