New Virus Hits Caribbean Islands

CHIKUNGUNYA FEVER a viral disease similar to dengue, first seen of the French side of St. Maarten, has now spread to seven other countries.

Carried by mosquitoes, the disease is rarely fatal, though the effects of joint pain and lethargy sometimes lasts for months. Evidence of the disease has been detected in the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, and St. Barths. Local health authorities are using fogging on standing water where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Travelers to these countries should be aware of standing water and mosquitoes, and use repellent to deter them.

Great news, we land in the islands in just six-days! :mad:

REI has great short sleeve and long sleeve shirts of different fabric weights that are treated with mosquito repellant. They also have unobtrusive wrist bands (as a mosquito magnet I wear on ankles too) I never get a bite wearing them

Also your doctor can give you a prescription you start 2 days before you leave and take for two weeks after you return.

Of course you can also just drink gin&tonics too:)

It might be prudent to recall the Commander's words of advice at the start of the Caribbean season and as especially as the disease is still active.