Warning to Families and Couples in Tropical Americas: Zika Spreading Fast.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

April 29, Martinique:

Accumulated cases 20 980 / 17 990.

(= 2 990 new cases, in 2 weeks)

This translates into about 5 000 new cases in April.

La tendance de l'épidémie reste Ã* l’augmentation : 20 980 cas en Martinique - martinique 1ère

The map shows distribution with huge concentration in the district most adjacent to St Lucia. Interestingly, St. Lucia reported only 2 cases. Very odd, NO?

b.

I looked into it. I think there is an explanation. There were as you say nearly 21,000 cases in Martinique since the start of the epidemic. 2,100 in Guadeloupe, 1 in St Barts, 1 in Antigua and a few in St Lucia. Basically the epidemic is in some islands,but also hasn't reached a few of the islands yet as the infections in the disease free islands are thought to be amongst travellers who caught the virus elsewhere.

Given the prevailing winds here the only way the infection can jump from island to island is by boat or in infected people/animals and there isn't an awful lot of inter island traffic.

Belize has just been infected. The USA are free of local transmission so far. I expect it is just a matter of when not if it will eventually spread everywhere in the region?

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by poiu

(...)

Basically the epidemic is in some islands,but also hasn't reached a few of the islands yet as the infections in the disease free islands are thought to be amongst travellers who caught the virus elsewhere.

Given the prevailing winds here the only way the infection can jump from island to island is by boat or in infected people/animals and there isn't an awful lot of inter island traffic.

(...)

I think Castries - FdF ferry runs on a regular daily basis.

There is also another ferry Le Marin - Castries - 4 times a week.

I think the explanation is elsewhere - some islands have good med services and reliable med reporting, others have next to nothing.

b.

[barnakiel]

Martinique reports its first ZIKA fatality.

Number of cases total May 16: 25610 (previous total April 29: 20980)

This signifies 4630 new cases over two weeks.

This is well over 50% faster rate of new cases vs. previous period (2990).

Zika : 25 610 Martiniquais infectés - martinique 1ère

I hope it will peak and drop before our visit ;-(

Cheers,
b.

[poiu]

Originally Posted by barnakiel

Martinique reports its first ZIKA fatality.

Number of cases total May 16: 25610 (previous total April 29: 20980)

This signifies 4630 new cases over two weeks.

This is well over 50% faster rate of new cases vs. previous period (2990).

Zika : 25 610 Martiniquais infectés - martinique 1ère

I hope it will peak and drop before our visit ;-(

Cheers,
b.

Don't hold your breath. It can take years to become just an endemic disease.

I don't think it is a huge risk unless you plan to get pregnant. Flu kill plenty of people and we all just accept the risk. By the time it is no longer an epidemic there may be something else. Seems like chikungya has abated as a concern only to be replaced with zika.

Maybe a new form of dengue or a super virulent form of malaria could appear. I wonder if ever mutations may result in really nasty illnesses like aids becoming transmittable by air?

[barnakiel]

Originally Posted by poiu

Don't hold your breath. It can take years to become just an endemic disease.

I don't think it is a huge risk unless you plan to get pregnant. Flu kill plenty of people and we all just accept the risk. By the time it is no longer an epidemic there may be something else. Seems like chikungya has abated as a concern only to be replaced with zika.

Maybe a new form of dengue or a super virulent form of malaria could appear. I wonder if ever mutations may result in really nasty illnesses like aids becoming transmittable by air?

He he he.

Having been thru Chikungunya already and having suffered the long term effects as described on the web, I am more than cautious before getting either Zika or Dengue. I can skip one season and ski in the Alps instead.

I have assumed (quite likely wrong) that Zika epidemic might develop along a timeline similar to that of Dengue. This would imply roughly 12 months from onset to end. Off course, they never disappear completely, only become less of a certain threat. You can get Dengue or Chiku also today in the Carib.

If I were to guess, there will always be some form of virus or otherwise bug that will affect us while traveling much as some claim running your blood thru the watermaker gets rid of 99.9% of all virus, bacteria and protozoa.

We want to travel and we want to avoid nasty viruses; and while traveling, we spread them. What a freeking paradox!

Cheers,
b.

[lorrie]

In Mexico and I cannot figure out the equation before they spray me with pesticide.There is a big push to get rid of the possibility as too much nad press already. I am afraid I am going to die from what they are spraying but no bites. You cant have everything, lol.


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[robert sailor]

Take normal precautions and go and have a good time, there are always reasons for staying home!

[Dr. Sea]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

Take normal precautions and go and have a good time, there are always reasons for staying home!

Robert is right, assuming that your normal precautions are adequate and scrupulously followed. I contracted Chikungunya in BVI two years ago, and the symptoms only recently diminished to the point that I think they are gone. So my "normal precautions" are a bit more thorough and disciplined than they were before. Don't be careless about using an insect repellant with at least 15% DEET. More DEET is better. If you use sunscreen lotion, put it on first, then put the DEET on top of that.

[zeehag]

i always keep antiviral meds on hand. yeah pharma sed they not approved for yada yada, but, if htey prevent one virus from replicating, who´s to say they willnot prevent others from replicating. i have already tried em with influenzas and common cold viruses, with good results, and i was very close to colimilla when the chikingunya virus took the town, and in barra when dengue hit.. yet.....
and so, armed to teeth with autan, multiple screens on everything and hands filled with anti viral medications, i continue onward. so far, unscathed by viral evils.
by=tw-- mexico also has zika---west coast prolly by now also east coast.
just figger the virus is everywhere and behave accordingly. donot be a bigot, when it comes to viruses, f em all......

[lorrie]

What Antiviral med do you keep on hand Zee. If February I got this flu that was going around here in Banderas Bay and it was the worst thing I ever had, head pounding and cough for weeks. I would have taken just about anything to lesson that flu. I am not a big fan if meds but was taken pain killers for the headache. I told a friend if I start loosing it take me to the hospital. There was influx of sick people from Canada.
Scary stuff and I never usually get flu.


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[sck5]

point a fan at the bunk you are sleeping in. I do this and I dont get bitten.

[barnakiel]

ZIKA Martinique report June 2:

Total number of cases by June 2: 27800 (previous total May 16: 25610)

This is 2190 new cases over 2 weeks.

This is somewhat slower rate of growth than in the previous period. The source says the stats are underestimated as by now many infected do not come for med help in the centers.

27 800 cas de zika recensés mais des statistiques sous-évaluées - martinique 1ère

Wishing you all good health,
b.

[Thorne]

I apologize in advance to all you folks who have your "Fear" radar all keyed up for zika but as usual there is more to the story than just a lowly mosquito.

As usual it is about money.

Check it out.

Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo - Monsanto, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak: Doctors -

See more at:

Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak: Doctors : HEALTH : Tech Times


I wonder what other countries treat their water supplies with untested chemicals?

My advise ..... Get a simple fan and a water maker and quit playing Russian roulette with your health.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Thorne

... Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo - Monsanto, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak: Doctors ...

Monsanto doesn’t manufacture Pyriproxyfen (or any larvicides).
The maker of Pyriproxyfen is the Tokyo-based Sumitomo Chemical Corp.
➥ The Facts about Monsanto, Zika Virus and Microcephaly | Monsanto Newsroom

[barnakiel]

This is the distribution from the onset till Sept 2, for Martinique.

I think we will take the risk.

Cheers,
b.