![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
The discussion on dengue still rages on. People are concerned and they should be. Dengue is not some thing you want to have.
There have been very lengthy discussions of it on TTOL.
http://www.traveltalkonline.com/for
Israel from BVI has offered a lot of helpful information.
This is his blog.
http://woodshedenvironment.wordpress.co
He gives a lot of up to date information on dengue throughout the Caribbean.
But let's talk about St. Maarten.
That's where I live.
Dengue on St. Maarten is what I want to know about. And I want to know what the government is doing to combat these mosquitoes.
Ah, but that is what is hard to find out.
To say that the reporting on the Dutch side is less than reliable is putting it mildly. And I am not sure about the French side either.
A recent article in The Daily Herald from 1/10/08 states that we are still on "pre-dengue alert", whatever that means.
http://thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k1
It also states that as of the end of November, 18 lab cases of dengue have been confirmed.
Eighteen? Doesn't sound like many, does it?
Then on Saturday January 12, 2008, I read in the same paper that the French side has 110 suspected cases as of January but only 13 confirmed.
Are you asking the same question as I am? If they suspect 110 cases, how in the world are only 13 cases confirmed?
Is it that hard to confirm? I may be wrong but doesn't a simple blood test confirm dengue?
So are people not being referred for blood tests?
Couldn't the article read something like of 110 suspected cases, 97 were ruled out and 13 were confirmed.
Shouldn't everyone be sent for a blood test if there is dengue suspected?
I just don't quite get it!
The last article also stated that suspected cases were down but the epidemic is still on, which brings me to another question.
How can you have an epidemic on one side of the island but only a pre-epidemic on the other side?
I know. I know.. Different governments.......different ways of reporting and assessing.
I still wonder how much is really being done to fight off this damn mosquito.
Here she is.
Cute, isn't she?
Oh yea, one important thing. She only bites during the day. Her cousins are the ones out at night but they don't carry dengue.
- Mood:
confused
http://livingdominica.blogspot.com/
She is a good writer and I find interesting items there. Today she wrote about Dengue in the Caribbean.
I guess everyone knows what dengue is. Believe me, you don't want to get it.
Two people apparently have died of Dengue Hemmorhagic Fever in Martinique.
This is no laughing matter.
Our wonderful health authorities here say not to worry, but officials on the French side are concerned and are on dengue alert.
http://thedailyherald.com/news/daily/k1
Jen also posted a link to a blog at The Woodshed Environment to keep informed of what is happening with these issues.
Well, well, well, when I clicked on this link, what did I find but some discussion of St. Maarten and our idiotic politicians who are downplaying our risk.
There is dengue on the island. That is the plain truth. Instead of downplaying it because we don't have too many cases.. ..yet...... the authorities should be starting a prevention program so that dengue does not become more prevalent.
Are they doing that?
I don't think so!
I haven't heard anything about it at any rate.
And it's so typical of our government. They never have things like health, education, or housing as a priority.
Although I did see a small news article in today's newspaper buried on page 4 stating that residents should take measures against mosquito breeding. .. such as removing stagnant water etc. The article also stated that because of all the rain we had, they cannot start with a campaign of mosquito fogging, but they will begin as soon as conditions improve.
I can't wait to see when that happens.
But a little article in the paper is hardly enough. The government needs to start a heavy campaign of public service announcements now.....before it gets worse.. Bombard the public with this information.
Jen also lists a Dengue Poster from Martinque that is being given to departing visitors.
Dengue Poster
Thanks Jen, for letting me take this information from your blog.
- Mood:
worried
