This very important cautionary notice is directed to Cruisers in Indonesia; Malaysia; Thailand; Philippines; Burma and Northern Territory-Australia. (incl. the Cruising Rally leaving Darwin shortly for Langkawi - Malaysia via Indonesia and Singapore).
DENGUE FEVER EPIDEMIC
"The Health Authorities of South East Asian Countries are reporting serious outbreaks of Dengue Fever in epidemic proportions".
For those who may not know about Dengue Fever, I can tell you firsthand you absolutely DO NOT WANT TO GET IT!
When I was 17 and living in Indonesia with my Foreign Service parents, I contracted Dengue Fever. Although a healthy young man, I was bedridden and delirious for almost 3 days. Miserable stuff.
I think it would be wise to get the danger into proportions.
You run a greater risk of ending up in a traffic accident just by going ashore than catching Dengue Fever, Sars and Bird flue together in the region.
Have been living in Langkawi for more than a year now, and where the 'problem' mainly excists is in squatters areas, remote villages and 'low-cost' urban areas.
Having had Dengue in French Polynesia, it is defintely worth taking precautions against, especially if you are the first one in a crowd who gets bit by mosquitos. It is possible to catch it anywhere in the tropics, but there are epidemics which flare up occasionally.
I remember seeing a guy in a bar in St Martin with a hooded sweatshirt on happily telling his mates that he was having chills because he had Dengue. In a week, any mosquito in the bar which bit him would be ready to spread the disease to the other patrons--thanks a lot!
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Dengue Fever Epidemic - S.E. Asia Countries
