Yes, in Jolly Harbour, Antigua, a mosquito bite can give you dengue fever. Dengue fever is caused by a virus spread through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes, which are present in Antigua. Dengue fever can bring various symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, rash, and fatigue. In severe cases, it can progress to hemorrhagic fever and shock syndrome, which are potentially life-threatening.
There's no particular cure for dengue fever. Treatment focuses on support, involving rest, hydration, and pain relievers. If you experience severe dengue symptoms, it's crucial to seek immediate medical care. We recommend you to protect yourself from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing and using mosquito repellent, especially during early morning and late afternoon when mosquitoes are most active.
Furthermore, it's important to recognize that some people show no symptoms when infected with this virus. However, it's crucial to exercise caution, especially with dengue, as individuals with symptoms typically develop them 4 to 7 days after a mosquito bite. So, the signs are similar to the flu and include a sudden high fever in waves, a severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint aches, and a rash with red spots.
On the other hand, in Antigua, independent groups are working hard to reduce the number of mosquitoes. For example, in Jolly Harbour, Caribbean Development Antigua Ltd. (CDAL) is taking steps to control the mosquito population. Their main goal is to lower the risk of mosquito-borne diseases by using well-thought-out methods. So, a special vehicle with a fogger sprays mosquito control treatments, ensuring even and effective distribution of the substances.
If you are traveling to the Caribbean island, we recommend that you take all possible precautions so that nothing interrupts your visit. Therefore, we invite you to read about the need to use insect repellent in Antigua.
