A few weeks ago we got a flyer in our mailbox from our condo management office stating that there was a case of dengue fever in our complex. The mailing stated that they did not think that this case of fever was contracted at our complex but all residents need to be extra careful to do their part in mosquito prevention.
This brings us to today, it was late afternoon and our door bell rang, upon answering the door we discovered a guard from our complex who said "we are here to check mosquito's" with him was an employee of "The Ministry of Environmental Safety." They came right in and went right to our roof top garden with clip board in hand and a ticket for mosquito offense ready to write. WHAT?!
Seriously, they went to all my plants to be sure that there was no standing water, thank goodness there was not, then he checked some containers that are under a roofed area and never get wet for standing water. If there was an offense we would have gotten a ticket.
At first I was offended but really dengue fever is nasty and it can be deadly. I am grateful that we live in a country that takes prevention seriously. They spray large amounts of pesticide every week, this is hard for me to get used to as I love to keep things organic but there is not prevention for dengue other than to kill off the mosquito population.
The characteristic symptoms of dengue are: a sudden-onset fever, headache (typically behind the eyes), muscle and joint pains, and a rash; the alternative name for dengue, "break-bone fever", comes from the associated muscle and joints pains.
Here is a commercial that they run on TV and if you want to know more about dengue I encourage you to look it up.
Dengue Fever Commercial
We are doing our part and praying that no one gets dengue fever in our family.
Yes, you're right it's important to take precautions and dengue is certainly a nasty and not fun disease. I had it once and I know many many people who have had it and/or that other no fun mosquito disease known as malaria. Weve been very blessed over the last couple years that we havent had either.I think the most important thing when dealing with these two illnesses is don't freak out. Be aware of the symptoms, drink lots of liquids (get tested as soon as you really notice the symptoms), and monitor/ treat when appropriate. Usually, esp if hydrated , rested, and monitered these do not become very serious. They are just not fun and take a while to recooperate and gain full stregth back. Because these diseases are so foreign in the states, Americans tend to really freak out when faced with a tropical disease, but to many Asians it's just that time of year where one has to be extra careful and pray for health. Sometimes its helpful to remember that God is bigger than our health and that he is bigger than anything we may face.
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