Our church has a mission team in the Dominican Republic. Several of them have come down with dengue fever, a virus spread by the bite of a mosquito.
One has passed away.
My son wants to go down there this summer on a mission trip.
Needless to say, with my frayed nerves, I am not handling this well at all.
Is there a preventative he can take, like malarone for malaria, that will reduce his chances of getting this?
Thanks for any advice. Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
I don't know of a preventable. When hubby and I planned a trip to Belize, we took mosquito spray with DEET and hubby promised that he would use it every day to ensure that he didn't get bitten.
A neighbor had warned us of the dengue fever.
So, your son has to put it on in the morning and carry it with him to reapply throughout the day. Especially if going to walk along a river bank, in bushes, in a jungle, etc. or any place the mosquitoes are known to be bad.
And, reapply at dusk.
We had a wonderful 1 week vacation in Belize. No mosquito bites and no sicknesses. I saw others who didn't know and didn't spray and they got lots of mosquito bites. And, the owners of our lodge told of a case of dengue that happened to their grandson right there at the lodge. They got him to the hospital right away and he was OK.
Posted by linky123 (Member # 19974) on :
Sounds like a plan. If he will only use the spray. He's one of those bulletproof teenagers.
Maybe when he sees/hears the missionaries there for himself, it will make him a believer.
I was just searching the internet and some recommend olive leaf extract for its anti-viral effects.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Scary ... dengue has now been found in TX, CA, and FL if I have my facts right.
Well let's see, it's probably a lot like lyme and won't cross any state lines unless given permission by the IDSA.
So we really shouldn't have to worry.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Right! No worries at all!!
Posted by iwouldratherbeatdisney (Member # 20602) on :
Yep you are right Lymetoo! It is in Florida. Actually cases are popping up around Central Florida and probably tons more that haven't been reported.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
oh lor, i'm going to belieze and roatan for two weeks in january!!!
well hell, i already have lyme.. what else can happen right??
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Be very careful, randi. Take plenty of mosquito spray just in case.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
yep plan on taking deep woods off with me.
am staying on ship at roatan. been there twice already. he's going diving and i'm staying onboard to just look at the ocean and read so i'm not getting off.
will be in cozumel for a couple of days but i don't think it's there. we mostly stay on the main street and shop.
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