Dengue Outbreak in Solomon Islands

[Griffo]

Just realised I posted this originally in the wrong place..

I was wondering if anyone had any real information on the Dengue outbreak in the Solomons? It's all over the news here at the moment, and all my family and friends are freaking out a bit about our planned wedding in July. We are going to Gizo via Honiara then New Georgia (UEPI). It's hard to get any reliable information - obviously the hoteliers are all "it's fine" while the local doctors are all advising against taking children etc.

Can anyone tell me whether by July the mosquito population will have dropped off? Is the outbreak really as bad as the news make it sound??
And what regions are currently affected?

Thanks!

 

[clownfishsydney]

Have seen nothing in the Sydney press about this. Check the Australian Government travel site and the US Government Centers for Disease Control web site.

 

[Griffo]

Hey Michael,

thanks for the advice. I've already checked the CDC and the "smart traveller" sites and they are hopelessly out of date. I was hoping to get some "on the ground" information to help ease peoples fears

Solomons dengue outbreak claims fourth victim - Australia Network News - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

 

[chillyinCanada]

Who is officiating at your service? If it is someone on island, perhaps they would be forthcoming.

 

[Griffo]

Who is officiating at your service? If it is someone on island, perhaps they would be forthcoming.

Hi Chilly,
Have done so, but would prefer an opinion from someone who doesn't have a financial interest in me turning up

 

[clownfishsydney]

Phone the Australian High Commission, they will tell you the truth I would think.

 

[chillyinCanada]

OzGriffo,, sorry buddy:

www.healthnet.org/dengue/index.php and enter Solomon Islands in the search bar just above the map. Then scroll down to check out the color code. Then scroll down to read the reports.

 

[GrimSleeper]

I live in Munda in the Western Province, and I'm not losing any sleep over the dengue thing. There has always been a very low-level risk of dengue here, all that's happened is that it's spreading a bit faster in Honiara. If you've ever been to the fair capital city of the Solomon Islands, it'll come as no surprise that there are a lot of mosquitos there: even by South Pacific capital standards, Honiara is a filthy hole with a high squatter population, inadequate rubbish disposal and drainage, and hence a lot of standing water.

Whilst there have been cases reported in the provinces, I'd suspect they have mostly contracted the disease in Honiara. Certainly, the numbers are small. We're also into the dry(er) season now, so there'll be less standing water around and fewer breeding places for mosquitos. The Ministry of Health are actually reporting that the epidemic seems to have plateaued already.

So, while it's real, none of the British final-year medical students here in Munda on their electives are concerned about the 'outbreak'. If you're overnighting in Honiara and it's still going on, maybe avoid being outdoors a couple of hours after sunrise and a couple of hours before sunset, since that's when the mosquito that carries dengue is supposed to be most active. I wouldn't worry about the time you're planning to spend in the West.

Oh, and if it helps, Gizo and Uepi are the local competition, so I don't have a vested financial interest in your going to either place...

 

[Griffo]

Thanks Grae!

I've also just been informed that the Gizo airstrip is to be closed from the 19th may to mid August, so we may have the entire tribe visiting Munda...