Comments on: Let’s Prevent Dengue Infection in Sayulita

By: Christy

Christy — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:06:31 +0000

hello Dr.Moi!

Do you, by chance, know what they are spraying out of the trucks at night? I would like to know what is in the air we are breathing….
Also, a year and a half ago I got Dengue Hemorrhagic – what are my chances of getting Dengue again and how severe will it be? I know there are 4 different types and you can only get each type once but am unclear as to whether DH is 2 types at once or if it is one type.
And what are the long term effects on the body after DH? Enemia?

H Tanasichuk:
I’m not too sure what a dog free beach area has to do with Dengue Fever as dogs have nothing to do with Dengue Fever.

By: Moises Cuevas, MD

Moises Cuevas, MD — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:18:02 +0000

So far no patients have been reported in the last month, so its kind of “safe” to come to Sayulita, taking of course your own precautions.

I would recommend to apply a natural mosquito repellent, such as FLY-OUT or BYEBYE mosquito, they are good and ok to use in pregnancy (although they have to be applied very often (2-3 hrs)

I hope you enjoy Sayulita!

Saludos

By: brett Mackie

brett Mackie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:55:49 +0000

I am thinking of traveling to Sayulita with my wife from Feb.27 to March 2. My wife is 27 weeks pregnant so we are concerned about Dengue. Would you recommend that we do not travel to tropical areas like Sayulita and risk the chance of getting Dengue Fever during this time? We were looking at staying at the Playa Escondido, which looks really great but all of the rooms are open air (with mosquito nets over the beds)…i imagine this increases the risks.

Do you have any advice for us?

Thank you so much for your time.

By: Dave Myles

Dave Myles — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 18:23:22 +0000

Hello Dr. Cuevas,
I want to thank you for your excellent and well written article on Dengue fever. I am sure it is no surprize to you just how much ignornance their is about this illness. In Vancouver, BC, where I received medical treatment, I bet the doctors had to go to the internet to read up on this disease. One question I would like to ask you. If you have been sick with Dengue fever once, what happens the next time, if you get bitten again. I have heard that if you have been bitten once and made sick, this will not give you any immunity against getting the disease next time. I have also heard that getting Denque fever a second time is a much more dangerous and possibly life threatening situation to be in. Can you tell me if this fact or fiction. Keep up the good work. Cheers: Dave Myles

By: H Tanasichuk

H Tanasichuk — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 02:37:43 +0000

I too was in Sayulita this fall and returned home with symptoms of Dengue. On November 8, 2009 my symptoms were so severe I was admitted to hospital for 9 days of intravenous narcotic anelgesia, anti-emetics and hydration. My platelet count dropped to 90,000 and white blood cell count to 1.0. This was a life threatening situation. It is now December 20, 2009 and I am still recovering at home. I was wearing insect repellant when this happened, so although individuals can make choices and attempt to reduce the risk, I believe that a community effort is necessary. Better spraying and sanitation and a dog free beach area would go a long way to increasing community protection from this terrible disease. We look forward to returning to Sayulita in February, but I am tempted to avoid it during the rainy season next year.
H Tanasichuk
Edmonton, Alberta Canada

By: Moises Cuevas, MD

Moises Cuevas, MD — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:34:37 +0000

Thank you Dave for sharing your experience. It is indeed very important to avoid mosquito bites, although sometimes is nearly impossible. I’ve been very lucky so far as mosquitos have a very special attraction to my delicious bloody body hehehe even repellent is not effective for me. :S Saludos!

By: Moises Cuevas, MD

Moises Cuevas, MD — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:32:37 +0000

Thanks a lot for posting this info Doc, we still concerned about Dengue here as it is still raining around here, so I think new cases will keep appearing. ‘ll keep posted. Saludos!

By: Dave Myles

Dave Myles — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 05:49:08 +0000

I guess keeping stats on how many cases of Dengue fever are occuring in Sayulita is probably important. To this end I want to inform that two of us visiting Sayulita, (mid November 2009) in shorts and no bug spray, came down with Dengue fever. There is no cure for Dengue fever and you just have to ride it out, lots of rest and drinking fluids. My advice is simple don’t get bitten by mosquitos.

By: Russell McMullen, M.D.

Russell McMullen, M.D. — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:36:52 +0000

Serology testing has confirmed acute dengue fever in the patient mentioned in my posting of 23 November 2009

By: John Raleigh

John Raleigh — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:03:15 +0000

I just visited Sayulita. I am a Civil Engineer from Redwood City, Ca. Sayulita doesn’t have a medical problem as much as a sanitation engineering problem. The town has garbage everywhere. The runoff water onto the beach smells like sewer water. Horses and dogs defecate on the beach. Farm animals live in the town. To clean up l the town there must be proper garbage, water and animal control –that means getting rid of chickens, horses, farm animals etc. Changing human behavior. No dogs on the beach! In rural area these controls are not as necessary. Sayulita has grown to big to ignore these human health minimum standards. PV has done many things to improve sanitation in the last 30 years. Sayulita needs to follow their lead.