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Chikungunya : un premier mort à Saint-Martin

JEK

Senior Insider

Chikungunya : un premier mort à Saint-Martin

Vendredi 17 Janvier 2014 - 11h03
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Une personne atteinte d'une forme sévère du chikungunya est morte à Saint-Martin. En Guadeloupe, le nombre de cas ne cesse d'augmenter, notamment à Baie-Mahault où le foyer n'est pas maîtrisé.
Le chikungunya a fait sa première victime. Atteinte d'une forme sévère de la maladie, mais souffrant également d'autres pathologies, une personne, pourtant hospitalisée, a succombé à Saint-Martin. Ce décès est considéré par les autorités sanitaires comme « indirectement lié » au chikungunya. Dans l'Île du Nord, l'épidémie reste très active : depuis son début, le nombre de cas suspects estimé s'établit à 490.
En Guadeloupe, ça ne s'arrange pas. Pas du tout. On atteint les 76 cas suspects (dont 27 confirmés). « La circulation du virus s'intensifie, indique le dernier point épidémiologique publié vendredi. Et le foyer identifié à Baie-Mahault reste très actif. »
Avec 81 cas probables répertoriés (dont une trentaine confirmée), Saint-Barthélémy paie un lourd tribut à l'épidémie. Un tiers des quartiers est touché. Mais la répartition des cas probables ou confirmés sur le territoire est inégale puisque près de la moitié d’entre eux est localisée dans le quartier de Corossol.





 
Chikungunya: first death in St Martin

Friday, 17 January 2014 - 11:03
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A person with a severe form of chikungunya died in Saint-Martin. In Guadeloupe, the number of cases is increasing, especially in Baie-Mahault where the outbreak is not under control.
Chikungunya has claimed its first victim. Suffering from a severe form of the disease, but also with other pathologies, a person, though hospitalized, died in St. Martin. This death is considered by health authorities as "indirectly linked" to chikungunya. In the North Island, the epidemic remains very active. Since its inception, the number of suspected cases estimated totaled 490 In Guadeloupe, it does not get better. Not at all. We reached the 76 suspected cases (27 confirmed). "The virus circulation intensifies, according to the latest epidemiological released Friday. And hearth identified in Baie-Mahault remains very active. " With 81 probable cases listed (one thirty confirmed), Saint Barthelemy pays a heavy price to the epidemic. One third of affected neighborhoods. But the distribution of probable or confirmed cases in the territory is uneven with nearly half of them are located in the district of Corossol.
 
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The wonderful old guy from the shell museum has died. I sure hope the Collectivity can keep the collection in tact and make a permanent museum for the shells-an incredible collection. A shame to just sell it off or ignore it.
 
OH - that is sad that the "shell man" has died. He was a delightful gentleman and yes, the Collectivity should preserve his collection.
 
Corossol.... probably a Google translation or something....

Apparently the the correct translation for the fruit of a local tree

Soursop is the fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America, primarily Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Soursop is also produced in some parts of Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific. It is in the same genus as the chirimoya and the same family as the pawpaw.
The soursop is adapted to areas of high humidity and relatively warm winters; temperatures below 5 °C (41 °F) will cause damage to leaves and small branches, and temperatures below 3 °C (37 °F) can be fatal. The fruit becomes dry and is no longer good for concentrate.
Other common names include: "Coração de Boi" Mozambique, Evo (Ewe, Volta Region, Ghana),"Ekitafeeli", Uganda, "Stafeli" Swahili, Aluguntugui (Ga, Greater Accra Region, Ghana) guanábana (Spanish), graviola (Brazilian Portuguese, pronounced: [ɡɾɐviˈɔlɐ]), anona (European Portuguese), corossol (French),කටු අනෝදා (Sinhalese), sorsaka (Papiamento), adunu (Acholi), Brazilian pawpaw, guyabano, guanavana, toge-banreisi, durian benggala, durian belanda, nangka blanda, ทุเรียนเทศ [turi:jen te:k] (Thai), sirsak, zuurzak (Dutch), tomoko (Kiswahili) and nangka londa.[1] In Malayalam, it is called ആത്തക്ക (aathakka), literally thorny custard apple. The other lesser-known Indian names are shul-ram-fal and Lakshmana Phala. and in Harar (Ethiopia) in Harari language known for centuries as Amba Shoukh (Thorny Mango or Thorny Fruit).
The flavour has been described as a combination of strawberry and pineapple, with sour citrus flavour notes contrasting with an underlying creamy flavour reminiscent of coconut or banana.
 
This mosquito disease has me very nervous to take our trip. Are people considering cancelling because of this? I always use bug spray but it is impossible not to get some mosquito bites!
 
If anyone should cancel it's my wife and I. She has compromised immunity and I have lung problems. I won't cancel and will take our usual precautions in the villa and outside. Dengue has been around for a while too and I never canceled. I am very attractive to biting insects but have never been bitten on St Barts. DEET 95 percent is my perfume of choice.
 
But the distribution of probable or confirmed cases in the territory is uneven with nearly half of them are located in the district of Corossol.

This from corossol.info

Il nous semble important d'alerter les gens du village de Corossol afin qu'ils agissent en éliminant les gîtes larvaires, qu'ils mettent des "guppies" dans leurs citernes, qu'ils nettoient leurs gouttières ou autres bassins, susceptibles de retenir des eaux.

I like that. Put guppies in your cistern to eat the mosquito larvae. Miam-miam.
 
If anyone should cancel it's my wife and I. She has compromised immunity and I have lung problems. I won't cancel and will take our usual precautions in the villa and outside. Dengue has been around for a while too and I never canceled. I am very attractive to biting insects but have never been bitten on St Barts. DEET 95 percent is my perfume of choice.

Andy, usually I'm covered in Deep Woods Off which seems to work, but only if I'm diligent about keeping it on - I'm curious what you use in/around the Villa to keep the Mosquitos down. We've tried the coils and found they only work so-so.

We've stayed in breezy Colombier the last two times, which helped to keep them at bay, but we're staying at Villa EMM this time and will miss the breeze. Unfortunately if there's a mosquito around, it will find me!
 
Mosquito Milk, sold at Marche U, is very effective. My girls are magnets for these annoying critters, and MM works for them.
 
Andy, usually I'm covered in Deep Woods Off which seems to work, but only if I'm diligent about keeping it on - I'm curious what you use in/around the Villa to keep the Mosquitos down. We've tried the coils and found they only work so-so.

We've stayed in breezy Colombier the last two times, which helped to keep them at bay, but we're staying at Villa EMM this time and will miss the breeze. Unfortunately if there's a mosquito around, it will find me!
First, I have the villa sprayed inside and out before I get there. Then every night right before we go out, I spray Baygon around the windows and the bathroom. When I go out in the morning I spray Baygon under the tables and chairs and then I use Repel 100 on myself which has 98 % DEET which I got at Walmarts camping section. I am also bringing Repel Lemon Eucalyptus which is also sold at Walmart and Target. With all that stuff on it's no surprise that I have never been bitten by an insect on St. Barts.
 
Thanks for the tips, Tim and Andy. I've used Mosquito Milk with varying degrees of success - worked great the first time in April, but not as well for me last year in May.

I'm not familiar with Baygon - I'll have to check it out. Good to know about the Repel 100 and Repel Lemon. I looked at those last year, but didn't want to switch from the tried and true Deep Wood Off!
 
I'm also thankful for these tips, Andy! I am a major magnet as well, while Tom never gets a single bite (I'm his repellant!) And despite all the spraying, I still get bitten. MM didn't work at all for me. Deep Woods Off does the trick for the most part....I'll try your Repel and the Baygon next time. Never heard of Baygon either. Do you find it at Walmart as well?
 
Baygon is a flying insect spray and is used to spray around the villa and not on yourself and is found at March U and Oasis.
 
Andy, usually I'm covered in Deep Woods Off which seems to work, but only if I'm diligent about keeping it on

As a supplemental defense against mosquitos (not a replacement for diligence), you might consider insect-repellent clothing.

Clothes with a repellent incorporated into the fabric, most often using permethrin marketed as Insect Shield, can be bought via Insect Shield or through one of the many brands that use this or similar technology. I (or companions) have bought from Haeleum, ExOfficio, and Zorrel as well as via Insect Shield. The repellent property is said to last for 70 washes.

A more cost-effective approach is to buy some permethrin and spray onto your own clothes ( ...while you're wearing something else ...). I have used Sawyer which can be purchased from REI and many other other outdoor activity stores. This lasts 4 or so washes. Be careful to follow directions when spraying in a well-ventilated, windless location and keep any pets (especially cats) away. I am told once things dry, contact with pets is OK but if applicable you could check with a vet.

The best outdoor area repellent I have found is from Thermacell but it runs a few hours on a butane cartridge and TSA regulations are such that sufficient refills cannot be brought along so it seems not useful for a trip to St Barts.

http://www.insectshield.com/
http://www.haeleum.com/
http://www.exofficio.com/search/bugsaway
https://www.zorrel.com/ (need to search for insect shield on site)
http://sawyer.com/technology/permethrin/
http://www.rei.com/
http://www.thermacell.com/mosquito-repellent
 
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