Dengue is now a serious issue in Bali

Before proceeding with the rest of this post, I highly recommend reading the following article from what has often been called “Bali's Truth Minister” the news outlet of Bali Discovery. 

https://balidiscovery.com/news/a-failur … is-in-bali

As I write, virtually every clinic and hospital within a reasonable distance from Ubud, in Gianyar Regency, is full to capacity with Dengue patients.  As a long term expatriate resident of Ubud, I can unequivocally state that I have never witnessed anything like this, nor has any local I know.  At the same time, it is not my intention or desire to be an alarmist, or to spread rumor or false information.
 
Rather than repeat the wealth of information about Dengue available on the internet, I would rather offer some particular points that are often not stressed or fully discussed.

-Early diagnosis of this disease is essential.  Many of its initial symptoms are common to simple traveler's diarrhea or the common flu, such as a fever, vomiting and diarrhea, head aches and joint pain. 

-The incubation period for Dengue averages around ten days.  As a result, travelers can often be back home before these symptoms manifest themselves and thus Dengue can be confused with, or considered to be something else. 

-The most dangerous and potentially deadly aspects of Dengue…its hemorrhagic aspects, often come on suddenly and without much, if any, advance warning.  It is this particular aspect of the worse of the Dengue strains that emphasizes the need for proper testing and treatment at its earliest stages.

-The Aedes aegypti species of mosquito, which is the sole carrier of Dengue (females only), is unlike other species of mosquito most familiar to westerners.  It does not give off that tell tale signal of high pitched buzzing sound while flying, nor do its bites generally result in large and itchy welts.   

So…why now?  What is causing this dramatic increase in Dengue? 

Unquestionably, this is the result of climate change, and in particular, global warming.  Just like our brothers down south in Australia, we are experiencing much higher than normal temperatures this rainy season.  The breeding capacity of the Aedes aegypti mosquito is greatly enhanced by greater warmth. 

My bottom line…be aware, be smart, and take precautions.