First there was the BP-Deepwater Horizon disaster and the impact to Florida beaches, now we’re hearing fear being trumped up by the media of Dengue Fever. As if the Florida Travel industry needs anymore bad news.
What is Dengue Fever?
Dengue fever is spread by mosquitoes and is starting to show up in South Florida. According to MedlinePlus:
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 - 105 degrees Fahrenheit. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 - 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable. Other symptoms include; headache, fatigue, joint aches, muscle aches, nausea, swollen lymph nodes and vomiting.
The Florida Keys and Key West have been ground zero of the dengue fever outbreak. Business, health and tourism officials are already getting phone calls about the threat.
According to the Sun Sentinel:
Doctors have logged 14 cases in the old town since April - two last week - after an outbreak of 27 cases last fall marked the first time since 1945 that someone got the virus in the continental United States.
And the New York Times reports:
News of the disease has apparently unsettled a few potential visitors. But tourism officials and business owners in Key West are even more unsettled, by the way the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has publicized the cases.
On July 13, the centers issued a press release stating that an estimated 5 percent of Key West’s population showed evidence of recent exposure to the dengue virus. The estimate was based on tests of 240 residents, of whom 13 were positive. The 5 percent figure was reported by many newspapers, including The New York Times.
That news was the last thing the city needed, with the economy already making the usual summer slump in tourism even worse. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has also scared some visitors away, even though the oil has been nowhere near Key West.
How to Avoid Dengue Fever
Since dengue fever is passed by mosquito bites, the best way to prevent dengue fever is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. According to the CDC:
Use Insect Repellent on exposed skin when you go outdoors - Use an EPA-registered insect repellent such as those with DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus. Even a short time being outdoors can be long enough to get a mosquito bite.
Clothing Can Help Reduce Mosquito Bites - When weather permits, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors. Mosquitoes may bite through thin clothing, so spraying clothes with repellent containing permethrin or another EPA-registered repellent will give extra protection. Don’t apply repellents containing permethrin directly to skin. Do not spray repellent on the skin under your clothing.
Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours - The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many species of mosquitoes. Take extra care to use repellent and protective clothing during evening and early morning — or consider avoiding outdoor activities during these times.
Drain Standing Water - Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Limit the number of places around your home for mosquitoes to breed by getting rid of items that hold water.
Install or Repair Screens - Some mosquitoes like to come indoors. Keep them outside by having well-fitting screens on both windows and doors. Offer to help neighbors whose screens might be in bad shape.