It was an ordinary day. Sitting with my family doctor trying to figure what to do to avoid Dengue Fever. Carol and I are heading back to our favorite vacation destination in a few months so I started checking out the couple of forums devoted to St. Martin/Sint Maarten. Doc is stumped. The Dengue Fever thing was not my only reason for my visit today. I wanted him to make my shingles, that have been with me for almost a year now, go away. He's stumped about that also. He did take the article that I printed from the SXM Travel forum and looked at it. In the article it tells about Dengue Fever being in an epidemic phase at present. Residents of St. Martin have been asked to take necessary precautions to protect themselves. Action will be taken on three fronts: general mosquito fogging with insecticide over the whole territory affected, intensifying awareness on measures to protect individuals from mosquito bites, and reinforcing surveillance on the epidemiological situation. The article went on to tell residents to use repellent and creams and wear long sleeve clothing and long pants in the evening; install mosquito nets on doors and windows and sleep with mosquito nets to prevent bites, especially to children and elderly persons; remove any stagnant water collecting anywhere in the yard or in the house from flower vases and old tires; cover the water cistern with a mosquito net or breed the Golomine fish that eat the mosquito larvae; regularly clean out rain gutters especially after heavy rainfall. Hey, I'm going to be on vacation and laying on the beach in a bathing suit. I don't even take long pants or long sleeve shirts with me. And ........ I allegedly am elderly! After the article were a few comments that were made to help you understand what is happening. Mr. Mister SXM said to call him since he has the best customized mosquito control regimen. He has the best equipped arsenal of mosquito killing and preventing techniques in the Caribbean. Misting systems, foggings, water and ground treatments, etc. The island is half French and half Dutch. The article I read came from the French government. Another comment wanted to know what the Dutch side is going to do about the fever. There will be a large parade on the Dutch side the week before we arrive and someone wanted to know if the French government will want the parade to stop at the border so the mosquitoes don't come into the French side. I'm not quite sure what to expect. I plan to take plenty of bug spray with lots of DEET in it. My doctor did give me a list of symptoms which included fever, headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, feeling tired, rash, stomach problems, cough and sore throat, swollen glands, red eyes and possible bleeding. You know, the kind of stuff I have all the time. A blood test can tell if you have it and the treatment is ........ there is none! You can receive a blood transfusion if you have bleed too much and they can give you fluids with an IV if necessary. Wow, I'm going to be on vacation. "Is it worth it?" my doctor asks. "Sure, I wouldn't miss vacation for anything. If I get it there I probably will have to stay on the beach for a few extra days to recuperate." He looked at me and smiled. He knew I was telling him the truth. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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