663 cases of dengue!

I am going back to Bayahibe, La Romana again!!!! 3rd time now!!! Cannot wait!!!!

My family travels to the DR every year now it seems and we love it!

This year however my travel agent put his travel advisory letter in my ticket envelope with a special warning from Health Canada.

It says : as of September 5th, 663 cases of dengue fever and 14 cases of dengue haemorrhagic fever, with five deaths, have been reported.

Does anyone out there know more about this report???? All I have been able to find is the news about the Poliomyelitis outbreak.

Well I guess bug reppellent is the best defence and staying away from urban areas.

In any case it won't keep me away from that beautiful place, I just wanted to warn others going so that everyone will bring their bug repellent and have a safe and happy holiday in "Paradise".

Cheers,

Mina

Seems high, but ok. How many AIDS cases from visiting US?
In other words, which is safer to visit, DR or US?
(Malaria is present in Florida. A disease only treatable, not
cureable! The Dengue is easily curable!)
Worry about sunstroke and the "not-wanting-to-return-home"
effects. The latter have changed the life of many!

Thanks Mina for the good information. Gunnar with dengue fever the mosquito bites you.With aids it's your choice. You are right,however,about the "not-wanting-to-return-home" effects :-)

I am sorry to say it, Gunnar, but you are wrong (which is unusual).

Dengue is not easily cured, actually it cannot be cured at all. You can treat the symptoms (loss of body liquids, high temperatures and headaches) but Dengue itself you can neither immunize against, nor cure or treat. Usually it just runs its course, with nothing worse than the feeling of having a bad flu.

Most often death is only caused when people have already had one case of Dengue and then catch another from a different kind of virus. This increases the risk of getting the very bad form of Dengue which is the bleeding kind (the haemorrhagic fever). The risk is still very low, though.

Mina is right about using insect repellent. You can chose to sleep under mosquito nets as well, if you don't sleep in an air conditioned room. And it is true that Dengue is mainly widespread in urban areas, due to the fact that they breed in dirty, stagnant water. But I wouldn't let that make me stay away from towns or cities. And like both Mina and Gunnar I wouldn't worry overmuch, and I certainly wouldn't let it keep me from my well earned holiday.

Dengue is spreading these years and can even from time to time be found in the States. It is hard to avoid on travels, so learn how to live with it instead and find out what it is about.

More information can be found in the DR1 archives or at for instance the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta (link below). Just observe that they tend to err on the side of safety.

Regards,
Susanne

Dave, I beg to differ with you. IT IS NOT YOUR CHOICE or no one would choose it. Remember, it is not ONLY sexually transmitted but by needle sharing (intentional and unintentional)and accidental contamination with body fluids including blood. The health care worker that accidentally gets stuck by a needle. And lets not forget those that are forced to use blood products (hemophiliacs/cancer patients). And do not refer to these patients as "innocent victims" of AIDS. THERE IS NO "GUILTY VICTIMS" OF AIDS. Just AIDS patients who need the same care and compasion and consideration as any other patient.

Mina can you provide me with the source of the statistics. Is it the Canadian Equivalent of the CDC (Centers for Disease Control)? The CDC is not providing this "warning" to US travelers.
Enjoy your vacation

Hi there, Ernest, and a happy New Year.

According to PAHO - the Pan American Health Organisation - the number of registered cases of Dengue in the DR is nearly double of what Mina mentioned.

The PAHO have described the problem with Dengue in the Americas quite extensively, and I have given the link below to one of the articles. It provides some useful information as well as statistics.

Let me add that more people than ever in Europe are returning home from holidays with a Dengue infection. (According to Promedmail and TropNetEurope). They are not just coming back from the DR - Dengue seems to be spreading rather agressively in almost all Southern countries.

Regards,
Susanne

The information from Mina I think is provided from Health Canada which have PAHO as the source.

Link below.

Regards,
Susanne

Once again Susanne is proving to be the most knowledgable, resourceful and helpful in telling all of us of medical alerts etc. Along with Dr. Ernest of course!!!!

Susanne has passed on the information you requested Dr Ernest!!!
So I will just reconfirm that she states correctly that Health Canada gets its information from the PAHO.

I just want to say that this message board is the best!!! You guys are always great with your quick responses...THANKS!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Cheers,

Mina

HI Susanne and a Happy Holiday Season and New Year to you!
Guess it is time for me to dust off the Dengue Fever post of last year and bring it out for those who don't bother to check the CDC information but will continue to worry about it.

Dengue Fever

Dengue is a mosquito-transmitted viral disease occurring chiefly in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Epidemic transmission is usually seasonal, during and shortly after the rainy season. There are no travel restrictions for any country with regard to dengue, however many cases have been reported in travelers returning from the areas listed below.
Risk
Generally, there is a low risk of acquiring dengue during travel to tropical areas except during periods of epidemic transmission. Dengue outbreaks have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years in most countries of the Tropics.
The risk is greatest in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Southern China, Central and South America (except Chile, Paraguay, and Argentina), the Caribbean (except Cuba and the Cayman Islands), Mexico, and Africa. There is a somewhat lower risk for travelers to Taiwan and the Pacific Islands. The Middle East and Northern Australia have a still lower risk of Dengue transmission. New Zealand is free of dengue fever.
Transmission
Dengue viruses are transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which are most active during the day. Mosquitoes that transmit dengue usually are found near human dwellings and often are present indoors. Dengue is predominant in urban centers, but may be found in rural areas; it is rarely found at elevations above 4000 feet.
Prevention
There is no vaccine for dengue fever; therefore the traveler should avoid mosquito bites by using insect repellents on skin and clothing and remaining in well screened or air conditioned areas. Travelers are advised to use aerosol insecticides indoors and use bednets if sleeping quarters are not screened or air conditioned.
Symptoms
Dengue fever is characterized by sudden onset, high fever, severe headaches, joint and muscle pain, nausea, vomiting and rash. The rash appears 3-4 days after the onset of fever. Infection is diagnosed by a special laboratory test of blood that detects the presence of the virus or antibodies. The illness may last up to 10 days, but complete recovery can take 2 to 4 weeks. Dengue is commonly confused with other infectious illnesses such as influenza, measles, malaria, typhoid, and scarlet fever. The symptoms of dengue can be treated with bed rest, fluids, and medications to reduce fever, such as acetaminophen; aspirin should be avoided.
More severe forms of the disease, "dengue hemorrhagic fever" or "dengue shock syndrome" are very rare among travelers. Symptoms initially are indistinguishable from dengue fever, but the illness progresses to faintness, shock, and generalized bleeding. Dengue does not produce long-term complications. See your physician if you become sick within a month of returning from travel in a tropical area. Be prepared to give your complete travel itinerary, so that the physician can evaluate the possibility that your symptoms were caused by a dengue infection.