Anywhere specific to be tested for Dengue/Zika/'Gunya' on STX?

Give these places a call to confirm free testing...(might be free to pregnant women only):
- Department of Health MCH Clinic

- Department of Health WIC Clinic

- Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center

- Frederiksted Health Center

Thanks, stjohnjulie,

I will call tomorrow. For some reason, I do believe I read at some point that the testing is free for pregnant women only (perhaps just for the Zika virus?). I don't mind paying for testing, just would like to see if it is one of these mosquito born illnesses. Sure is seeming like it to me, comparing my symptoms to all of my many friends who have had Dengue and 'the Gunya' the past few years!

"Anyone who wants to get free Zika testing can come to the U.S Virgin Islands Department of Health Clinics either on St. Croix [at Charles Harwood Memorial Hospital] or St. Thomas to get tested [the testing process takes about 15 minutes]. Turnaround time on results is one to two weeks."

"For more information on free testing, call the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Health Zika hotline at 340-712-6205."

https://www.vimovingcenter.com/talk/read.php?4,275926

You can get tested, if you wish to confirm that you've got one of the mosquito borne viruses but aside from confirming it, there's not much they can do to alleviate the symptoms. Hope you feel better soon, pilatesgal.

i thought your family doctor could request the test?

Thanks, Alana - I know nothing can be done but would simply like confirmation. Whatever it is, it came on like a freight train, but now is just lingering annoyingly, with headache and joint pain. Just when I was going to get on a plane to see my parents before the holidays...not so sure it is a good idea to travel, even though my fever is gone. I know that whatever it is, it is not out of my system yet and I DO NOT want any type of relapse, nor do I want to get my mother and 86 year old Dad (with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) sick! I need to go up to see them/help her care for him, but can't do much good if my body is still fighting some crud!

I've had dengue twice.
Miserable for a month, both times.
Missed the chikengunya but friends that had it said it was worse than dengue and for older friends, lasted much longer.
Months in some cases.
So far, so good with avoiding Zika.

Good luck with the testing.
If you're not feeling up to par, best, indeed to wait to see your folks.
I believe that dengue and chikengunya are not contagious or transmissible from person to person but Zika virus is a whole different ballgame.

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2016/09/09/zika-update-majority-56-new-zika-cases-reported-st-thomas

"Health is also partnering with several labs and clinics throughout the territory to provide free virus testing for anyone who is showing symptoms. The department said that if you are turned away from testing or are told to pay for testing then to call Health, since it has agreements in place with several facilities. These places should not be charging for Zika testing:"

"For local information about Zika virus, call the Department of Health Emergency Operations Center at 340-712-6205."

Thank you, BeachcomberStt!

You're welcome, pilatesgal318. Hope you feel better soon.

What exactly would a test do for you?

There's no treatment for any of these viruses other than rest and hydration...

None of the mosquito born blood viruses are contagious except through the bugs or perhaps needle sharing or some other blood swapping activity.

I think the Zika hysteria is hilarious... another boondoggle by the federal government, I wonder how much money was wasted on THAT non-issue.

The whole basis of that fear campaign is in question.

didnt obama want to give the cdc more than a billion to fight it

A test is very important!!!
It will confirm whether she has Zika or another virus.
Then she will know what NOT to do.

For example, (from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007666.htm
DO NOT take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory until your provider confirms that you do not have dengue. These medicines can cause bleeding in people with dengue.

ALSO the concern with Zika, besides microcephaly, is Guillan-Barre syndrome, which has killed a couple of people in Puerto Rico.

Wouldn't you want to know which virus you have contracted????

What exactly would a test do for you?

There's no treatment for any of these viruses other than rest and hydration...

None of the mosquito born blood viruses are contagious except through the bugs or perhaps needle sharing or some other blood swapping activity.

I think the Zika hysteria is hilarious... another boondoggle by the federal government, I wonder how much money was wasted on THAT non-issue.

The whole basis of that fear campaign is in question.

I wouldn't waste my time or money either. Just suffer through and be done with it.

Actually, according to the CDC, Zika can be transmitted by means other than solely mosquitoes, whereas dengue fever and chikengunya aren't.
https://www.cdc.gov/zika/transmission/index.html

A test is very important!!!
It will confirm whether she has Zika or another virus.
Then she will know what NOT to do.

For example, (from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007666.htm
DO NOT take aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), or any other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory until your provider confirms that you do not have dengue. These medicines can cause bleeding in people with dengue.

I had Denque, I took Ibuprofen... as long as you don't have major rashes, bleeding gumbs etc.. Dengue is only bad (fatal) in 1% of cases or less... and your immune to the strain after having it once.. it's actually not that bad of a disease.

ALSO the concern with Zika, besides microcephaly, is Guillan-Barre syndrome, which has killed a couple of people in Puerto Rico.

GBS is super rare and the cause is completely un-known, don't start fear peddling topics you don't fully understand.

They are not even certain Microecphaly is caused by Zika.. From what I've read it's most likely not. It's clearly due to the use of pyriproxyfen (a pesticide).

Wouldn't you want to know which virus you have contracted????

I grew up in a family that works in the medical industry, why do I need to go pay someone money when they are going to tell me to do exactly what I would normally do?

Now if your exhibiting ozing rashes (or even large rashes) or bleeding gums, yea; go in...

Otherwise don't waste your/their time.

didnt obama want to give the cdc more than a billion to fight it

1.9 Billion to be exact... (HOLY SHIT!!!)

As of August, the C.D.C. had spent $194 million of the $222 million it was allocated to fight the virus,

Already blew $194,000,000 on this crap... insane!

I had dengue twice, LF.
Exact same symptoms both times.
No, I didn't go to the doctor.
This was way before chikengunya came on the scene.

Funny story.
A girlfriend called me from STT emergency room, years ago.
She'd just seen the doctor and was told she had scarlet fever so she was freaking out. I asked her what her symptoms were. She told me and I told her to tell the doctor that she had dengue and he should probably go back to med school!

To each his own....and your mileage may vary.

I had Denque, I took Ibuprofen... as long as you don't have major rashes, bleeding gumbs etc.. Dengue is only bad (fatal) in 1% of cases or less... and your immune to the strain after having it once.. it's actually not that bad of a disease.

GBS is super rare and the cause is completely un-known, don't start fear peddling topics you don't fully understand.

They are not even certain Microecphaly is caused by Zika.. From what I've read it's most likely not. It's clearly due to the use of pyriproxyfen (a pesticide).

I grew up in a family that works in the medical industry, why do I need to go pay someone money when they are going to tell me to do exactly what I would normally do?

Now if your exhibiting ozing rashes (or even large rashes) or bleeding gums, yea; go in...

Otherwise don't waste your/their time.

A girlfriend called me from STT emergency room, years ago.
She'd just seen the doctor and was told she had scarlet fever so she was freaking out. I asked her what her symptoms were. She told me and I told her to tell the doctor that she had dengue and he should probably go back to med school!

That brings up another excellent point:
[img] https://img.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src ="https://img.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp-content/uploads/sites/26/2016/05/2300death.jpg&w=480[/img"]

Dengue isn't even ON that list, but fatality due to medical error (Scarlet fever?!?!) Is #3........

When I came back from deployment one of my soldiers went in for shoulder surgery due to a ... volley ball accident (yah... haha).

He got a bone infection and almost died.. The only fatality from deploying to a combat zone would have been a medically induced one

That's another good reason to practice self care.... ESPECIALLY down here 😉

now that is fuuny

I had dengue twice, LF.
Exact same symptoms both times.
No, I didn't go to the doctor.
This was way before chikengunya came on the scene.

Funny story.
A girlfriend called me from STT emergency room, years ago.
She'd just seen the doctor and was told she had scarlet fever so she was freaking out. I asked her what her symptoms were. She told me and I told her to tell the doctor that she had dengue and he should probably go back to med school!

Testing can be useful in that it gives the epidemiologists one more data point to fold in to their analysis. (Testing results are reported to the CDC, I understand). With this information, we can understand more about how these diseases spread and how virulently, allowing us to plan how to respond to future outbreaks.

Zika is not a "boondoggle." The pesticide hypothesis presented by the Brazilian doctors was conclusively disproved. It can result in catastrophic birth defects and trigger debilitating neurological conditions in adults. There might not be a lot to do about it if you catch it, but you can help researchers figure out how it works.

i had not heard it was disproved? just curious who disproved it

Testing can be useful in that it gives the epidemiologists one more data point to fold in to their analysis. (Testing results are reported to the CDC, I understand). With this information, we can understand more about how these diseases spread and how virulently, allowing us to plan how to respond to future outbreaks.

Zika is not a "boondoggle." The pesticide hypothesis presented by the Brazilian doctors was conclusively disproved. It can result in catastrophic birth defects and trigger debilitating neurological conditions in adults. There might not be a lot to do about it if you catch it, but you can help researchers figure out how it works.

Zika is not a "boondoggle." The pesticide hypothesis presented by the Brazilian doctors was conclusively disproved. It can result in catastrophic birth defects and trigger debilitating neurological conditions in adults. There might not be a lot to do about it if you catch it, but you can help researchers figure out how it works.

We know how these viruses work, Zika is very similar to Dengue.. these Flavivirus's have never caused, and DO NOT cause birth defects.

I would be very VERY interested to see your "disproved" source.

The CDC epidemiologists already know how Flaviviruses are spread. Zika has the same vectors as the others...

This situation LITERALLY meets the definition of "boondoggle".

They've already spent 200,000,000 on this NON-ISSUE....

We've had a handful of cases of highly suspect cases (read the CDC reports, how many were from OUT SIDE the US that happened to be in the US for birth? oh nearly all of them?) of microcephaly that happened to people who test positive for Zika does NOT mean that zika causes microcephaly .

This is a common logical fallacy, Correlation does not imply causation..

Critical thinking is hard, especially when none of us were taught how to do it.