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Island disease hits 50,000 people
BBC ^ | 2/2/06 | n/a

Posted on 02/02/2006 12:36:37 PM PST by kiriath_jearim

Island disease hits 50,000 people

A crippling mosquito-borne disease is spreading at an accelerating rate on the French Indian Ocean island of Reunion, health officials say.

They say the number of cases of the viral illness, known as chikungunya, had risen to 50,000, an increase of 15,000 in the past week alone.

The disease is not fatal, but those affected suffer high fever and severe pain. There is no cure or vaccine.

Hundreds of troops have been deployed on the island to eradicate mosquitoes.

Officials said the troops would be spraying the whole island against mosquitoes in the coming days.

The latest outbreak was first noticed there in February 2005 - but has spread at an accelerating rate since December.

Meanwhile, neighbouring territories are mobilising to contain the disease.

On the Seychelles - where 2,000 cases have been reported in the past four weeks - the army has been mobilised to exterminate mosquitoes, Reuters news agency reports.

The authorities in Madagascar also fear the disease may have reached their island, AFP news agency says.

Chikungunya fever is named after a Swahili word meaning "that which bends up" - referring to the stooped posture of those afflicted.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 02/02/2006 12:36:38 PM PST by kiriath_jearim
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To: kiriath_jearim

DDT might have helped.


2 posted on 02/02/2006 12:38:37 PM PST by Semper Paratus
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To: kiriath_jearim

D. D. T.

Millions have died because of its un-earned bad name.


3 posted on 02/02/2006 12:38:48 PM PST by MeanWestTexan (Many at FR would respond to Christ "Darn right, I'll cast the first stone!")
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To: kiriath_jearim


4 posted on 02/02/2006 12:41:01 PM PST by fishtank
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To: fishtank

Thanks, Rachel!/s


5 posted on 02/02/2006 12:42:30 PM PST by Frank_2001
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To: MeanWestTexan

Yeah, well....the tree huggers are happy it's no longer used.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, hundreds of thousands of people are crippled and die every year to this little insect.


6 posted on 02/02/2006 12:42:36 PM PST by MadeInAmerica ( - Tested in the Middle East)
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To: MeanWestTexan

You and Semper Paratus beat me to it. The unnecessary deaths of millions of people (mostly in Africa) since DDT was banned is directly attributable to the Kumbayah wing of the Democrat party. Do they feel bad? Nope. They're too busy congratulating each other to notice all the people who died as a result of their propaganda war against a pesticide that has not caused one documented human death.


7 posted on 02/02/2006 12:43:44 PM PST by American Quilter
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To: kiriath_jearim
Island disease hits 50,000 people

Amazing. What are the odds that it would be a round number like that. Incredible...

8 posted on 02/02/2006 12:46:31 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: American Quilter

Agreed !!and do not forget Malaria


9 posted on 02/02/2006 12:48:17 PM PST by Steveone (Liberalism is a brain tumor!)
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To: kiriath_jearim
Chikungunya fever is named after a Swahili word meaning "that which bends up"

Little known fact - that's the same as the derivation for the word "Clinton".

10 posted on 02/02/2006 12:48:22 PM PST by Onelifetogive (* Sarcasm tag ALWAYS required. For some FReepers, sarcasm can NEVER be obvious enough.)
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To: Semper Paratus

Bingo! When was it outlawed? I think it was when I was a kid 50 years ago.


11 posted on 02/02/2006 12:49:56 PM PST by Cobra64
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To: Semper Paratus
DDT might have helped.

I've often wondered why there isn't someone somewhere making black market DDT. I'd want to buy some.

I miss DDT, chlordane, and mirex. Good Lord, have they gotten rid of lindane, too?

12 posted on 02/02/2006 12:50:22 PM PST by sockmonkey
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To: fishtank; Semper Paratus; MeanWestTexan

At what point will Rachel Carson receive the credit for all of the deaths that she's caused?


13 posted on 02/02/2006 12:50:54 PM PST by FormerLib (Kosova: "land stolen from Serbs and given to terrorist killers in a futile attempt to appease them.")
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To: American Quilter

Since when has the left cared about dead babies, children, etc? The campaign against DDT is a travesty.


14 posted on 02/02/2006 12:51:59 PM PST by WV Mountain Mama (Here we go Steelers, here we go!!! One for the thumb!!!)
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To: FormerLib

She'll be up there with Hitler, Stalin and Mao pretty soon...


15 posted on 02/02/2006 12:53:42 PM PST by fishtank
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To: kiriath_jearim

Catch a few, put them in a jar and send them to the Iranian and N. Korean dictators.


16 posted on 02/02/2006 12:53:48 PM PST by Integrityrocks
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To: kiriath_jearim

I'm going to forward this one over to JunkScience.com


17 posted on 02/02/2006 12:56:32 PM PST by FormerLib (Kosova: "land stolen from Serbs and given to terrorist killers in a futile attempt to appease them.")
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To: kiriath_jearim
When ARMACO (Saudi Arabian-American Oil Company) first went into the eastern province, in 1932, where so much oil is, they discovered that 100% of the Saudis had malaria in some form.

They sprayed and sprayed with stuff you can't get today. They killed all the mosquitos and effectively eliminated all malaria.

By 2000, malaria had re-appeared in the Kingdom because malaria-infected east Africans went to work for Saudi ARAMCO and re-infected the healthy Saudi mosquitoes.
No biggie. Spraying continues and malaria is curable. Saudis are healthy malaria-free, for the most part. Don't ask about letting in sick/healthy workers....I know, I know. That, apparently can't happen.

Reunion could be healthier if the local government would spray as assiduously as needed....and continued the war on this mosquito.
I suppose the French will have to pony up the Euros for everything....I hold out no hope for the locals. They are doomed without external help.

18 posted on 02/02/2006 1:02:10 PM PST by starfish923 (Socrates: It's never right to do wrong.)
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To: kiriath_jearim
Chikungunya fever is named after a Swahili word meaning "that which bends up"
I thought it was namefd after Slick.
19 posted on 02/02/2006 1:04:28 PM PST by Slicksadick (Go out on a limb........Its where the fruit is.)
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To: American Quilter
"They're too busy congratulating each other to notice all the people who died as a result of their propaganda war against a pesticide that has not caused one documented human death."

They WANT people to die because Gaia is overcrowded. In their dream utopia all the "unnecessary eaters" would be dead leaving only the enlightened ones living in perfect harmony.
20 posted on 02/02/2006 1:13:06 PM PST by dljordan
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