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Chikungunya virus
#36739
01/28/2015 10:50 AM
01/28/2015 10:50 AM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26
Walyo
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Hi all, considering a return 10 day bareboat to BVI this summer however media coverage of this virus has somewhat soured the enthusiasm of my group including myself. Can anyone who has been there recently perhaps comment on the reality of getting sick with this thing for cruisers? In other words, are any of us getting infected? Much appreciated.
Last edited by Carol_Hill; 01/28/2015 11:01 AM.
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Re: Chikunganya virus
[Re: Walyo]
#36742
01/28/2015 11:04 AM
01/28/2015 11:04 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 8,530 Ya never know...
HillsideView
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Ya never know...
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Know several people who had it and it was creating quite a stir there at the time. Haven't heard much at all mentioned about it the last 2 months or so. I'd venture a guess you have a higher chance of contracting Ebola on the flight down <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
I'm heading down in about a week and have no concerns at all.
My foot fits right into my shoe and my shoe will fit right into your...
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Walyo]
#36743
01/28/2015 11:04 AM
01/28/2015 11:04 AM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,022 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Hi. I corrected the spelling of the virus, in case anyone is doing a search for more information.
Chikungunya is nasty stuff. It has died down some now. Many, many locals have contracted it. Boaters are not immune, but if you keep lots of bug spray on when you go ashore, you lessen your chances dramatically.
Carol Hill
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Walyo]
#36748
01/28/2015 04:17 PM
01/28/2015 04:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 201 TN
msdj69
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I was just on Reef Song for 14 days (1/10 - 1/24). We talked to a local at Corsair's on JVD who came down with it a few months ago. He said it's nasty business. He said it's dying down there on JVD. Not sure about anywhere else. My crew made it back home safe, sound, and virus free.
Mike
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: sail445]
#36752
01/28/2015 04:49 PM
01/28/2015 04:49 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 5,678 An island state of mind
tradewinds
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sail445 said: There were cases reported on the news in Massachusetts, New York and Maine Were they contracted there, or cases of people who caught it while traveling in the Caribbean and brought it home with them?
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: tradewinds]
#36754
01/28/2015 05:01 PM
01/28/2015 05:01 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
sail445
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tradewinds said:sail445 said: There were cases reported on the news in Massachusetts, New York and Maine Were they contracted there, or cases of people who caught it while traveling in the Caribbean and brought it home with them? The news didn't go into detail, they just said that cases were reported. If I wasn't using a tiny iPhone I would check the CDC website.
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Walyo]
#36755
01/28/2015 05:05 PM
01/28/2015 05:05 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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Walyo said: Thanks for all the responses. Need to make a decision in the next few weeks but I'm hoping the epidemic starts burning itself out by summer. I wouldn't make a determination on whether or not you go forward with the trip because you MIGHT get Chikungunya. We go 2-3 times a year and have never contracted it nor has anyone in our group. I might be a little more concerned if we were staying on shore, but even then its a small risk. So my advice - book the trip, go and use bug spray - preferably with deet.
Matt
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: sail445]
#36756
01/28/2015 05:07 PM
01/28/2015 05:07 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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sail445 said:tradewinds said:sail445 said: There were cases reported on the news in Massachusetts, New York and Maine Were they contracted there, or cases of people who caught it while traveling in the Caribbean and brought it home with them? The news didn't go into detail, they just said that cases were reported. If I wasn't using a tiny iPhone I would check the CDC website. I am pretty sure the MA case, they reported that they were recently in the Caribbean.
Matt
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Tarroc]
#36760
01/28/2015 06:14 PM
01/28/2015 06:14 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
sail445
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Tarroc said: one reason the chikingunya virus is so nasty is that the mosquito that carries it is not easy to kill. It doesn't breed out of doors but inside buildings, in drains and wet areas etc. So Gov't spraying does no good. On the other hand if you're on a boat you're probably OK. Hotels and restaurants etc are the more likely venue for infection. And they bite by day, not at night. Actually it breeds in and outdoors and still feeds in the early evening and is up just before sunrise and into the day.
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: sail445]
#36763
01/29/2015 08:36 AM
01/29/2015 08:36 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
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St. Thomas, USVI
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sail: Actually, you are wrong. Here is the CDC website... The conspiracy theorists on St Thomas believe that a sailor from St Martin brought it to Jost last Old Year's and that is why it was noted there first in the VIs early last year. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Nutmeg]
#36764
01/29/2015 10:42 AM
01/29/2015 10:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,003
sail445
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Posts: 3,003
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Nutmeg said:sail: Actually, you are wrong. Here is the CDC website... The conspiracy theorists on St Thomas believe that a sailor from St Martin brought it to Jost last Old Year's and that is why it was noted there first in the VIs early last year. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Actually this is what I said: "The news didn't go into detail, they just said that cases were reported. If I wasn't using a tiny iPhone I WOULD check the CDC website. " So where am I wrong?
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: sail445]
#36765
01/29/2015 12:21 PM
01/29/2015 12:21 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
StormJib
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sail445 said:Nutmeg said:sail: Actually, you are wrong. Here is the CDC website... The conspiracy theorists on St Thomas believe that a sailor from St Martin brought it to Jost last Old Year's and that is why it was noted there first in the VIs early last year. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Actually this is what I said: "The news didn't go into detail, they just said that cases were reported. If I wasn't using a tiny iPhone I WOULD check the CDC website. " So where am I wrong? With many(as much as 30%) having no symptoms they are infected the authorities may never figure out who brought the disease in. The contagious phase is also very short in humans and does not start as soon as a human is bitten or infected. Could have been a sailor making a hop from St. Martin to JVD. Could have been a air crew member who introduced the disease to mosquitos near any of the airports. A visitor for a two week sail or camping trip to JVD could easily get bitten at the airport and carry the disease to any number of island mosquito and then human populations. The mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person. After virus incubation for eight to ten days, an infected mosquito is capable, during probing and blood feeding, of transmitting the virus for the rest of its life. There is no way to tell if a mosquito is carrying the chikungunya virus. Infected female mosquitoes may also transmit the virus to their offspring by transovarial (via the eggs) transmission, but the role of this in sustaining transmission of the virus to humans has not yet been defined."Infected humans are the main carriers and multipliers of the virus, and serving as a source of the virus for uninfected mosquitoes. The virus circulates in the blood of infected humans for several days, at approximately the same time that they have chikungunya fever (see also clinical symptoms)."
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: StormJib]
#36766
01/29/2015 01:35 PM
01/29/2015 01:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
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Massachusetts
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Wow.. all this talk over something that I think is a pretty low risk...
Here's a simple way to look at it. Here in NE, we're at risk of EEE from mosquitoes or lyme disease from ticks. So why worry about something that you are probably less likely to get than either of the above on a short visit.
Just gotta do what you'd do at home and take precautions to minimize your risk.
Matt
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: maytrix]
#36768
01/29/2015 01:59 PM
01/29/2015 01:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 83,022 Central Florida!
Carol_Hill
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Central Florida!
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I certainly wouldn't cancel a trip because of the threat of chick-v, especially considering it is all over the Caribbean now, and also in some US states, but considering the numbers are around a million confirmed cases by now, it is nothing to sneeze at, so people should pay attention and try to protect themselves, as much as possible.
Carol Hill
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: sail445]
#36769
01/30/2015 08:02 AM
01/30/2015 08:02 AM
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 5,884 St. Thomas, USVI
Nutmeg
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St. Thomas, USVI
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sail: They are daytime mosquitos and "domestic"- they live in and around houses. On St Thomas, the majority of cases were in housing units which were built close together.
[color:"red"]NUTMEG[/color] Today is the tomorrow you talked about yesterday.
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Re: Chikungunya virus
[Re: Walyo]
#36771
01/30/2015 01:04 PM
01/30/2015 01:04 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 604 Jacksonville, FL, USA
onlymedication
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Posts: 604
Jacksonville, FL, USA
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Waly, Here's my two cents. We were there in early November, didn't get bit by a single mosquito.
Try to put everything that has been said here into perspective. If you are on a boat for ten days, and especially if you are usually on the boat at sunset, you have a low probability of getting bitten by a skeeter. If you don't get bit by a skeeter, you've got 0% chance of contracting. Bring your DEET bug spray, keep an eye on the kids and watch your sunsets from the boat and there's little chance you'll be affected.
Like I said, we had ten days on the boat and two ashore in November and neither my wife or I can recall getting bitten. But we always watch sunsets from the boat and we always take the furthest available ball from shore (we like the quiet and the breeze) and we don't overnight on the boat at the dock.
Enjoy your trip!!
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