Zika Virus St. Croix

I got Dengue after 2 weeks on stx.

I am sure I would get zyka. Mosquitos love me...

There has been a lot of publicity about the dangers of Zika for pregnant women, but now they are finding a possible link to an increase in another disease that causes full-body paralysis.

So many people are shrugging this off, because the media made the symptoms sound no worse than dengue, which many of us have had. I have no desire to be paralyzed for many months in a Caribbean hospital, so you better believe I am using bug spray!

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/22/world/americas/zika-virus-may-be-linked-to-surge-in-rare-syndrome-in-brazil.html

http://stthomassource.com/content/news/local-news/2016/01/22/territory-reports-first-case-zika-virus-st-croix

STX reports it's first case.

Zika will be as prevalent as Dengue or Chick viruses in VI unless something is done about the vector.

Zika will be as prevalent as Dengue or Chick viruses in VI unless something is done about the vector.

DDT was a wonderful vector control. GMOs show huge promise. Both have huge backlash by environmentalists who apparently love disease more than humans.

With the VI islands being so small fogging could eradicate or suppres mosquitos easily. Agree about GMO has the best long term potential.

With the VI islands being so small fogging could eradicate or suppres mosquitos easily.

Suppress mosquitoes maybe but the risk associated with the fog/spray settling on rooftops and being washed into and possibly contaminating cisterns used for drinking water would be too high.

With the VI islands being so small fogging could eradicate or suppres mosquitos easily.

Suppress mosquitoes maybe but the risk associated with the fog/spray settling on rooftops and being washed into and possibly contaminating cisterns used for drinking water would be too high.

How much active ingredient do you think would both end up on roofs and then wash into cisterns before being biodegrade do by sun and air?

How much active ingredient do you think would both end up on roofs and then wash into cisterns before being biodegrade do by sun and air?

Of course! We always used to have regular neighborhood fogging here when the mosquito population was particularly dense until it was deemed "unhealthy". Plenty of warning was given if people were sensitive to the chemicals used so they could close up their homes during the spraying. Common sense seems to have deteriorated to a ridiculous low in this "new age" of desperate sanitization.

Dengue fever gets ignored as this is third world problem. Chic got very little attention in mainland US. Now microcephalic birth defects associated with Zika will get attention in US. The images of microcephalic are very graphic. Zika will be as prevalent as dengue within 1-2 years in entire Carrib. It will impact tourism to the islands.

Renata Platenberg posted on "What's Going on St. Thomas":

"Lots of people are very worried about Zika, and there are renewed calls for spraying (or fogging). Please know that spraying doesn't stop the mosquitoes that carry this. The health dept made that announcement several years ago. What the spraying does do, however, is indiscriminately kill all flying insects, on which frogs, birds, bats, lizards, and other insects depend. Plus, it's bad for us! To get rid of the mosquitoes, repair your screens, get rid of all standing water, and spray your closets. Not the forest."

Okay?

With all due respect, simply not so. The dengue (of course its onset was many years ago) and chikungunya viruses were widely reported stateside as well as worldwide and, just like them, the Zika will be epidemic on its travels and then fade from mainstream news as immunity to it becomes more widespread. And then will come the next one ...

The mosquito genus which carries these viruses doesn't survive in cold weather so it won't have as much of a newsworthy impact in the Northern hemisphere but travel sites worldwide consistently warn travelers to the regions affected to be aware and wary.

Thanks for the edification, East Ender.

http://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/ddt-brief-history-and-status

OT

What I had in mind is that women of childbearing age will avoid Carrib travel given scare of microcephalic defects. My gf already said "not getting pregnant here". A little over the top reaction but here it is.

I already had dengue fever last August and it was not fun. Aedes aegypti and albopictus like dark, moist places. Like our bathrooms. Screens are not that helpful.

OT

What I had in mind is that women of childbearing age will avoid Carrib travel given scare of microcephalic defects. My gf already said "not getting pregnant here". A little over the top reaction but here it is.

I already had dengue fever last August and it was not fun. Aedes aegypti and albopictus like dark, moist places. Like our bathrooms. Screens are not that helpful.

Right now, pregnant women probably should avoid travel to affected areas (as they're advised) as, like the rest of the viruses, it's going to get worse before it gets better. But like the rest it'll come and go and the chances of contracting it anyway are likely not statistically huge.

Touch wood, over 30 years here and never contracted dengue or anything else other than a couple of bouts of 'flu over the years! I was a real mosquito magnet for a couple of years but gradually became immune which was a relief!

I've had dengue twice over my lifetime here.
Missed getting the chikengunya virus but knew lots of folks that did get it. Seemed that the older you were, the longer the symptoms lasted. Heard bug spray prices were on the rise.

" I was a real mosquito magnet for a couple of years but gradually became immune which was a relief!"

OT: You may become sensitized to mosquito saliva, which can cause itching, but you are not immune to viruses they can transmit.

I love the bat show Ms. Platenburg has at Magens but her suggestions do not get rid of Mosquitos. You will also see the peddlers of woo here selling some bs "natural" insect repellent as well. When mosquitos become a public health threat it's time to bring out the chemical control.

" I was a real mosquito magnet for a couple of years but gradually became immune which was a relief!"

OT: You may become sensitized to mosquito saliva, which can cause itching, but you are not immune to viruses they can transmit.

Yes, thanks, I know.

To OT,
Unless you had negative serology aimed at dengue specifically you may have had dengue fever with just a flu like symptoms. Not all infected individuals manifest with fully blown clinical symptoms.

I second the thoughts of EE. Just because you don't itch, don't mean you don't get bitten.

Here's some woo for you!
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-natural-mosquito-repellents.html

http://www.motherearthnews.com/nature-and-environment/how-to-keep-mosquitoes-away-zmaz03aszgoe.aspx

http://healthynatured.com/best-natural-mosquito-repellent-recipe

Be sure to keep your bats healthy as they eat hundreds/thousands
of insects a night and those house lizards like mosquitoes too.
Love watching the one on my bedroom screen door stalk and catch.
Have a few throughout the house.

Unfortunately, chemical fogging kills all types if inspects and is harmful to many species of reptiles and birds. It does not only kill mosquitoes and can be detrimental to human health as the above link from EPA about DDT shows.

If you have citronella oil, you can put some on cotton balls and place around home and deck. I'm going to check out some of the other recipes. OT, we know catnip won't work for you with all your kitties!

To OT,
Unless you had negative serology aimed at dengue specifically you may have had dengue fever with just a flu like symptoms. Not all infected individuals manifest with fully blown clinical symptoms.

I second the thoughts of EE. Just because you don't itch, don't mean you don't get bitten.

Well whatever I had, twice in 30 plus years living here of an apparent 'flu which quickly came and went is hardly worth researching or debating. And, as I said, I'm well aware that not itching doesn't mean one isn't bitten.

No, Alana, any crop of catnip I've grown has been decimated before maturity! 😀

Citronella oil has a short time it is viable for due to its high rate of volatility. 30-60 minutes before effectiveness wears off. The people promoting anything other than deet or picaradin should be held criminally and financially liable for the costs both monetarily and physically for diseases caused by insect vectors that they promote with the nonsense based natural bullsh!t.

http://labs.russell.wisc.edu/mosquitosite/repellents-for-application-to-skin/