Key West Lou / DENGUE FEVER ON THE RISE IN THE KEYS

While coronavirus has been overwhelming us, dengue fever has quietly been on the rise in the Florida Keys. Dengue as dangerous as coronavirus. It also can kill.

A quick background re dengue.

Dengue is caused by the bite of the Aedes mosquito. The fever’s numbers dramatic. Three hundred ninety million cases a year world wide. Five hundred thousand hospitalized. Forty thousand die.

Dengue was eliminated from the U.S. several decades ago.

Prior to 2009, there had been no reports of dengue fever since 1934. An outbreak occurred in Key West in 2009-2010. In 2009, 22 were afflicted. In 2010, 66.

I cannot ascertain whether there have been any dengue cases since 2010, except for those that occurring now in 2020.

The dengue attack a recent one. In the last 2-3 months. All in the northern Keys. Primarily around Key Largo.

In the past 4 days, 16 new cases reported. Which brings the recent total to 42.

An epidemic in the making, if not already one.

Dengue is considered a tropical and sub-tropical virus. Its symptoms include high fever, headaches, vomiting, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash.

At higher levels, the virus can cause blood problems.

The problem a global one. Frequent in 120 countries. Primarily, southeast Asia, south Asia, and South America.

A significant rise in cases worldwide occurred in 2019.

Dengue is regarded as the “neglected tropical disease.” The reason being it generally occurs in poorer countries who do not have sufficient funds to combat the problem.

Cost of prevention and ordinary treatment cheap. However the world for all intents and purposes has turned its back on the poorer nations when it comes to dengue fever.

Coronavirus is out of control in the U.S. Mainly because Trump failed to recognize the danger involved and continues to fail in providing necessary guidance and assistance to deal with the virus.

The U.S. is consider, or was considered till recently, the world leader in every respect. No more, especially as far as coronavirus is concerned.

New Zealand is a country that took the bull by the horns immediately and did the right thing. The people of New Zealand followed the instruction of the government. There were no I refuse to give up my freedom cries.

Prior to this week, New Zealand had eliminated coronavirus from its concerns. Again, the people had followed the rules. Stay at home, work from home, wear masks, social distancing, bars closed, restaurants only providing delivery service, etc.

This past week, a family living in Auckland came down with the virus. Four members in the family.

The 4 cases are the first new ones New Zealand has experienced in 3 1/2 months.

New Zealand is not waiting to see if anything further occurs. Immediately, the old rules went into effect. New Zealand basically shut down. The country refuses to go back where it was when the virus first struck.

Kamala Harris the Democratic Vice-President presumptive nominee.

All the ladies considered were Vice-Presidential material.

I assume Biden made the correct choice.

The only negative re Harris by my way of thinking was when she attacked Biden in one of the debates. She was vicious.

The Biden and Harris families wee close. Biden’s son Beau now dead and Harris were very good friends.

It was a cheap shot. There is a line drawn in everything. Regardless of what politics is, Harris stepped over the line in the manner she attacked Biden. I consider such a character issue. Biden says he has forgotten.

Politics does make for strange bedfellows. I can recall John Kennedy selecting Lyndon Johnson as his running mate.

Trump had much to say re Biden’s selection. He hit Harris with everything. False statements galore.

The best was when he said Harris was “mean.” The meanest man in the world calling another person “mean!”

On this day in 1939, The Wizard of Oz premiered in Oconomowoc (spelled correctly), Wisconsin. Judy Garland starred.

Love the music! Especially, “We’re Off To See The Wizard.” The opening words…..We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz!

Great songs.

Forget not “Over the Rainbow.” Today ranked the most popular song ever.

There was severe competition for the role of Dorothy. Judy Garland and Shirley Temple.

Judy Garland made a statement many years later that had nothing to do with the Wizard movie. However said much about her life.

Garland had been in several movies before the Wizard. She said, “I was born at the age of 12 on an MGM lot.”

I mentioned yesterday the story of the 8 year old special needs student who was arrested in 2018. Disgraceful!

Additional information came to light this morning.

The lawyer for the boy in the civil suit is Ben Comp. He also represents the George Floyd family.

It took almost a year for the felony battery charge to be resolved. It should have been dropped immediately.

The prosecution/police permitted the charges to be dropped based on the child’s mother agreeing to have the child evaluated psychologically and undergo mental health counseling with a clinical psychologist.

Such bullshit! It is the way courts are run when a police officer is out of line and the judicial/police system wants to cover the cop’s ass.

Some William Hackley.

As we daily read his diary, it is difficult to remember the time is 1855. Today’s entry mentions Hackley walking to where Fort Zachary Taylor was being built. He describes the progress up to that point.

The baby mentioned: “The babe not very well.”

I continue to worry about the baby. I wish Hackley would write whether it was a boy or girl and tell us the baby’s name..

Enjoy your day!

[livemarket market_name="KONK Life LiveMarket" limit=3 category=“” show_signup=0 show_more=0]