Vietnam forum

Posted from within Vietnam.

Saw my doctor this week and he said that I should make sure I take anti-mosquito precautions as DENGUE fever is running wild in the south with 15,000 people infected, 12 of them dead. At this point in 2006 only 8 people had succumbed. Seems that around 85% of the victims are located in the south.

Two other curves to his warning: (1) the virus is mutating in reaction to commonly used drugs; (2) it is becoming a year-round problem rather than confined to certain months of the year.

Of course, mozzies like the south best, and what with the ideal breeding areas such as rivers filled with untreated sewage, a problem all over this country, things couldn't be much more ideal for them.

We have bug sample catchers in my office and 1 is ABOVE the warning threshold (actually the threshold is half-a-mosquito) per sampled area and it the worst areas the count is almost two (average).

Bottom line is use plenty of Deet-based bug spray, wash your feet daily, wear clean socks and make sure your shoes don't smell like 'cheese'. The worst types of mosquitoes like this smell and come out at dawn and dusk.

You can buy repellent in VN - a spray called REMOS and a cream/lotion called SOFELL. Neither have an unpleasant smell and don't stain (my) clothes.

There is no cure for dengue, yet, drugs are used to reduce the fever.