Dengue Fever Showing up in Central Florida.

[DawnCt1]

Use your mosquito repellant. They don't call it "break bone fever" for nothing. http://www.wesh.com/health/24343521/detail.html

Dengue Fever Showing Up In Central Florida

Officials Trying To Prevent Spread To Local Mosquito Population



ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. --

Dengue fever has infected a handful of people in Central Florida, health officials said.
“This is not a regular flu virus that you get, you feel a lot worse,” said Dr. Todd Husty.
“You get a real great fever, a horrible fever; it's called ‘break bone fever.’ You feel like your bones are breaking, but it's really joint pain,” Husty said.
Health officials said more than a dozen people have picked up the virus from Mosquitoes in the Keys.
More than 30 more across the state of Florida have the fever after picking it up out of the country.
Signs And Symptoms Of Dengue Fever
Mosquitoes in Central Florida do not carry Dengue, but they could if people are not careful, local doctors said.
Mosquito control experts are treating areas near where three Orange County people have Dengue. While the patients caught the fever somewhere else, if they get bitten by mosquitoes the virus could get into the local mosquito population.
“There's a possibility that you've produced enough virus for our local mosquitoes to pick it up,” said Dr. Tom Breaud with Orange County Mosquito Control.
Doctors say anyone with Dengue should stay inside, away from mosquitoes.
While most mosquitoes bite at dawn and dusk, insects carrying Dengue have a different pattern.
“The mosquitoes that transmit Dengue to us bite during the day,” said Breaud.

 

[LukenDC]

I read about this earlier today. Given all of the air and ship travel and global movements of people, it's surprising that tropical diseases do not appear in the US more often. People in FL need to take steps to prevent standing pools of water (in containers, old tires, plastic splash pools, etc.) on their property.

I'll be packing my DEET when I go to WDW in September.

 

[DawnCt1]

I read about this earlier today. Given all of the air and ship travel and global movements of people, it's surprising that tropical diseases do not appear in the US more often. People in FL need to take steps to prevent standing pools of water (in containers, old tires, plastic splash pools, etc.) on their property.

I'll be packing my DEET when I go to WDW in September.

I agree. I remember there was an outbreak on Maui a few years ago. In all of the years I have been going to WDW I have never had a mosquito bite. Maybe they don't "like me".

 

[Feralpeg]

Fortunately, the people who have it in Central Florida were actually bitten elsewhere. Our local mosquitoes don't have it...YET! If those infected people were bitten by a local mosquito, it could end up being carried by local mosquitoes. They have been doing extra spraying in the areas where the infected people live.

The mosquitoes that carry the fever are in southern Florida. It could be just a matter of time before they move north. I certainly hope not. Mosquitoes love me! Sadly, it will be almost impossible to avoid exposure to them. This particular type of mosquito is out and will bite in the middle of the day.

Of course, I could wear DEET except for one problem. My daughter is very allergic to DEET. I put a children's insect repellent on her once when she was four years old. We ended up spending the 4th of July in the ER. I was told to never expose her to DEET again. What to do?

 

[DawnCt1]

Fortunately, the people who have it in Central Florida were actually bitten elsewhere. Our local mosquitoes don't have it...YET! If those infected people were bitten by a local mosquito, it could end up being carried by local mosquitoes. They have been doing extra spraying in the areas where the infected people live.

The mosquitoes that carry the fever are in southern Florida. It could be just a matter of time before they move north. I certainly hope not. Mosquitoes love me! Sadly, it will be almost impossible to avoid exposure to them. This particular type of mosquito is out and will bite in the middle of the day.

Of course, I could wear DEET except for one problem. My daughter is very allergic to DEET. I put a children's insect repellent on her once when she was four years old. We ended up spending the 4th of July in the ER. I was told to never expose her to DEET again. What to do?

I have never tried it but some people like Avon Skin so Soft for repelling mosquitos.

 

[freckles and boo]

My sister-in-law is a microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist in Miami. She sees all kinds of stuff that is rare in the rest of the US and most of it is carried in by people from the Caribbean and Latin America.

 

[DawnCt1]

My sister-in-law is a microbiologist and infectious diseases specialist in Miami. She sees all kinds of stuff that is rare in the rest of the US and most of it is carried in by people from the Caribbean and Latin America.

The outbreak in Maui originated from guests from Africa.

 

[Minniemama350]

I have never tried it but some people like Avon Skin so Soft for repelling mosquitos.

This never works for me for mosquitos. It always makes them bite me more.What does work for me is taking B12 supplements. It isn't perfect, but it does help.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I have a very severe reaction to mosquito bits, I swell and I itch like it is as deep as the bone. I itch uncontrolably, have tried oral and topical meds, nothing helps. I live in Deet in the summer which I know is awful, and I still get bit horribly. Just today I was asked if I had chicken pox by a mom of some kids at school who I ran into. I am covered each year all summer, they scab cause I am bad and itch but really, I just can't control it. Thankfully though they alwasy look like they are scaring, they fade each year. Our sheets have had blood where I have itched so hard in the night.

Anyway, my point is, you know, I have never been bitten in Disney. It never occured to me till now. I will be sure to pack bug spray in case, this is good to know, but it is interesting that Florida mosquitos must not like me either!

 

[donaldduck352]

I'll tell you a great repellant that alot of people don't believe.Put Listerene mouthwash into a spray bottle and spray it around your ankles.Also spray it around your chair or picknick table.Trust me IT DOES WORK.And people will think you have great dental hygiene if anything!

I live deep in the swamps of Florida and my grand dad taught me this years ago.Try it and see for yourself.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

I'll tell you a great repellant that alot of people don't believe.Put Listerene mouthwash into a spray bottle and spray it around your ankles.Also spray it around your chair or picknick table.Trust me IT DOES WORK.And people will think you have great dental hygiene if anything!

I live deep in the swamps of Florida and my grand dad taught me this years ago.Try it and see for yourself.

I'll Bite! I mean...I'll give it a try!!!

 

[GeorgeG]

This is the first I'm hearing about it. To be honest, in the five years I've lived here, I have only had about three mosquito bites. All the yards here are treated and the lifestyle is such that you don't spend a lot of time outdoors because we have screened lanais. Of course, those who insist on living by the ponds get more insects (and reptiles) in their yards, but I had been coming to Florida long enough to know to avoid that when we moved. Those who live on a golf course have an even worse pest to deal with... golfers!

 

[golfgal]

Some commercial bug sprays contain Picardin now. It doesn't work quite as well as DEET but it should work just fine in Florida where the mosquitoes really are not a big issue.

 

[Tampa Mousekeeter]

Some commercial bug sprays contain Picardin now. It doesn't work quite as well as DEET but it should work just fine in Florida where the mosquitoes really are not a big issue.

you are so right about mosquitoes in Fl...we have lived here 5 years and I can probably count on one hand the bites I have gotten....now when we lived in NJ.....omg I was covered with them.....my mother always told me they liked the little fat ones...

 

[Feralpeg]

This is the first I'm hearing about it. To be honest, in the five years I've lived here, I have only had about three mosquito bites. All the yards here are treated and the lifestyle is such that you don't spend a lot of time outdoors because we have screened lanais. Of course, those who insist on living by the ponds get more insects (and reptiles) in their yards, but I had been coming to Florida long enough to know to avoid that when we moved. Those who live on a golf course have an even worse pest to deal with... golfers!

You are very lucky. It seems that the chemical makeup of some people just attract mosquitoes more than others. I am one of those people that mosquitoes adore.

I have lived in Florida for six years. I do not live near a pond or lake (our lake is five blocks away). I have my yard treated on a monthly basis and I have a screened lanai. I do not spend time outside in the evenings. I even mow the yard in the middle of the day, no matter how hot it is, to avoid bugs. They still find me.

Recently, a census worker came to my door. I stepped out on my front porch to talk to her and got bit. This was in the middle of the day. I don't have a lot of shrubs or anything surrounding my porch either.

My daughter is also a mosquito magnet. She went to the Magic Kingdom with a friend a few weeks ago. While waiting at the TTC in the middle of the day, she got bit on her feet three times. We are both the type that swell dramatically when we get a bite. She once had to go on an outing with her school to a park. By the time I picked her up, she had 27 bites. She ended up getting sick to her stomach from them. To make things worse, she is deathly allergic to DEET.

Of course, I also got bit three times this summer by those stupid yellow fly things. My leg swelled up with a knot the size of a baseball.

So, consider yourself lucky if you are one of those people who mosquitoes shun. I wish that were me!

 

[Mouse House Mama]

For those of you who can't use deet (we won't use it) I reccommend Burt's Bees insect repellent. No chemicals and it works better than anything we have used. It also goes very far. It smells like lemon Pledge.

 

[itsheresomewhere]

Fortunately, the people who have it in Central Florida were actually bitten elsewhere. Our local mosquitoes don't have it...YET! If those infected people were bitten by a local mosquito, it could end up being carried by local mosquitoes. They have been doing extra spraying in the areas where the infected people live.

The mosquitoes that carry the fever are in southern Florida. It could be just a matter of time before they move north. I certainly hope not. Mosquitoes love me! Sadly, it will be almost impossible to avoid exposure to them. This particular type of mosquito is out and will bite in the middle of the day.

Of course, I could wear DEET except for one problem. My daughter is very allergic to DEET. I put a children's insect repellent on her once when she was four years old. We ended up spending the 4th of July in the ER. I was told to never expose her to DEET again. What to do?

badger bug balm works great

 

[Luvchefmic]

I'll tell you a great repellant that alot of people don't believe.Put Listerene mouthwash into a spray bottle and spray it around your ankles.Also spray it around your chair or picknick table.Trust me IT DOES WORK.And people will think you have great dental hygiene if anything!

I live deep in the swamps of Florida and my grand dad taught me this years ago.Try it and see for yourself.

Your Grand Dad gave you wonderful advice..works on the dogs & horse too !

 

[JerseyJanice]

For those of you who can't use deet (we won't use it) I reccommend Burt's Bees insect repellent. No chemicals and it works better than anything we have used. It also goes very far. It smells like lemon Pledge.

I'll tell you a great repellant that alot of people don't believe.Put Listerene mouthwash into a spray bottle and spray it around your ankles.Also spray it around your chair or picknick table.Trust me IT DOES WORK.And people will think you have great dental hygiene if anything!

I live deep in the swamps of Florida and my grand dad taught me this years ago.Try it and see for yourself.

I like both these suggestions and will try them. I'm afraid of DEET. I think it's really toxic stuff that should be avoided.

 

[luvwinnie]

Fortunately, the people who have it in Central Florida were actually bitten elsewhere. Our local mosquitoes don't have it...YET! If those infected people were bitten by a local mosquito, it could end up being carried by local mosquitoes. They have been doing extra spraying in the areas where the infected people live.

QUOTE]

But the article says
Health officials said more than a dozen people have picked up the virus from Mosquitoes in the Keys

Edited:Oops, I just realized you said they weren't in CENTRAL FL mosquitoes...sorry!