I lived in Puerto Rico for twenty-two years, and we had several dengue epidemics. The only way to keep the illness under control, is a massive government-private-volunteer crack down on water in tires, in large plant pots, streets, curbs, and anywhere where water can stay stagnate. It is a terrible illness, and I was extremely lucky, to never had suffered the illness. The public health agencies on these islands, with the help of the citizens, all working together is the only way to miminize this illness.

I am leaving for Costa Rica in one week and planning on visiting the rain forest there... any recommendations?

Yes, my recommendation is to have a great time. If you are really worried put on mosquito repellent. I will be there is two weeks and I am not losing sleep over this.

My cousin when to Costa Rica and had to get numbers of immunization shots. Hospitals here often have travelers clinics. You can call and find out what you need. The rain forest there from what I hear is a difficult trek but if you are young and able bodied it should not be hard. Just make sure you are up to date on your shots ... maybe you can google something like what shots to I need when traveling to say Costa Rica in your case.

Gaffhold: here is a site I found: http://www.therealcostarica.com/health_education_costa_rica/disease_costa_rica.html

Still check with a travel clinic just to make sure and yes, mosquito repellent and netting where you sleep.

Also See our Center for Disease Control

Dengue fever? When in the Caribbean, just worry about the rum because it will sneak up on you like you wouldn't believe! Rum is the only real health hazard in the Caribbean, especially for old geezers like me. And just hope and pray that those drivers on the other side of the narrow road haven't had too much, not to forget about ganja. That's another story entirely, but I don't do that stuff. Lungs can't take it. Never could. That's why I never moved to Caul-i-fawn-ia, Mr. Ah-nold.

The four known variants for Dengue Fever, and the ability of that virus to re-trench so easily due to the mosquito-borne nature of the disease showcases how easily a major pandemic can begin ... and to expand. The now approaching rainy season, accompanied by hurricane activity, have the ability to ramp this situation up very quickly to a larger geographic area. I would assume that the CDC in this country is monitoring the problem very closely for any signs of the disease emerging on our shores.

Peace, Prometheus

Mosquito repellent is your only defense gaffhold, although I don't know if Costa Rica's had much yet. DEET based products all over whenever you go out, and the normal mosquito things: avoid dawn and dusk nad sitting water, wear longer clothes especially pants, etc.

I live in Miami and frequently go to the Caribbean and LatAm on business. No way around it, it's out there, you just have to be careful and hope you don't get it. I only worry for my young son but he's probably going to get a DEET syndrome before he gets dengue, malaria, etc....

In some asian countries, dengue is treated by boiling sweet potato leaves and drinking the water after if cooled down. Anybody know about it?

In some Asian country dengue is treated by boiling sweet potato leaves and drinking the water after it cooled down. Anybody heard about it?

I live in Costa Rica and we have a lot of Dengue right now. Bring repellent with Deet in your bag and use it. Wear long sleeve, lightweight t-shirts and long pants and don't sleep with the windows open at night...you just invite the mosquitoes in! Normally it is more prevalent in the low-lying areas close to the coasts. However, this year Dengue is all over the country, even in the Central Valley and the mountains. Come with protection and you'll be fine. Enjoy Costa Rica!

Mosquitos are attracted to the color white, avoid white. I've had untreated dengue while in the Caribbean. It will make you pray to die but you will recover. A buddy had it while in India and reported the hallucinations were worth it!

is this the way the planet culls the over populated species?

Mosquitos cause more disease and distress then and other insect. With all the technology we have why can't we create a biological method to eradicate them all together.  They are a worthless and unnecessary insect. Get rid of the Mosquito and get rid of Malaria, dengue, and a host of other bad things besides the general aggravation of the pest.

OMG! As a retired nurse, I not only consider myself well-educated & well-informed as to medical issues, but I read tremendously to try to keep up. How did this one get by me?

I did NOT know that Dengue Fever was even in this Hemisphere! I thought it was contained in Africa, across the middle east to India & beyond to the Malaysian countries. And I certainly didn't know there were 4 kinds! Wonder if the symptoms are different with each?

Thanks for all the great comments, & while I don't plan on going to Central America, I will be going to N. Australia where I need to ck. if it is present.

Cheers!

Well at one time the area I live in, which has a lot of marsh area, they used to spray a thin layer of oil (I don't know what type) over the water so the eggs would not hatch. That method has long since been outlawed and marsh land is preserved by law. I wonder if the mosquitos won't be as bad down in the Gulf of Mexico region this year b/c of the oil spill? Not a very silver lining mind you, just a thought. I don't recall hearing anthing about Dengue when I went to San Juan 2 years ago. No shots were recommended by anyone to me. I have traveled to China on the mainland as well as Hong Kong and Japan. I did not have to get any shots to go there. When entering mainland China from Hong Kong I believe it was Canton region, very poor, very bad conditions. That was 17 years ago almost, and I was in my early '30's and horrified at what I saw there at that time. You think you see third world countries on TV, but seeing in person a whole other thing!

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Please help!!!!, I live in dominican republic and the deaths are more than 100 only since last month!!!, the authorities are not giving all the information, they still have not fumigated this country and it needs to be done ASAP, going door by door like they said they did this past weekend is a good method as prevention but the mosquitoes need to be killed, Im leaving my country untill this epidemic at least calms down. We ARE in red alert but for some reason the authorities dont think so. Please take care of yourself and sorroundings if you are in dominican republic, if you get dengue the only thing you can do is wait and hope that you wont die.