Dengue Fever

Aedes Hong Kong is always on the watch for Dengue Fever (pronounced den-gee, with a hard "g") a severe flu-like illness characterised by high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, rash, joint and muscular pain. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a potentially fatal complication characterised by high fever, haemorrhagic phenomena, and in severe cases, circulatory failure.

I'm not trying to scare folks, but it's best to learn proper precautions. To avoid dengue fever, wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants—hard to do when it gets hot, but safer—along with liberal amounts of insect repellent. This applies to those frequenting country parks or rural areas where mosquitoes breed in greater numbers.

Urban dwellers don't need to worry, unless Hong Kong experiences a severe outbreak. If that happens, it will be big news.

To remind folks to protect themselves while enjoying Hong Kong's natural wonders, I've penned a ditty to the tune of that great classic, Fever, as sung by Peggy Lees:

Never know how much I loathe you, never know how much I swear
When you put your stinger in me, I get a fever that's so hard to bear
You give me fever - when you buzz me, fever when you land to bite
Fever - in the morning, fever all through the night.

Sun lights up the daytime, moon lights up the night
I light up when you drink my blood, and you know I'll need some treatment, right
It's dengue fever - when you buzz me, fever when you land to bite
Fever - in the morning, fever all through the night.

Everyone could get the fever, that is something you all know
Fever isn't such a new thing, fever started long ago.

Romeo loved hiking, Juliet she felt the same
Later after they'd been bitten, he said "Julie baby you're aflame"
We haveth fever, haemorrhagic, fever in our flaming youth
Fever - I'm afire, fever yea I burn forsooth.

Mosquitoes love stagnant water, love to lay their eggs in there
When the larvae hatch and leave it, they start another dengue scare
They give the fever - with their buzzes, fever when they land to bite
Fever - It's because this water wasn't treated right.

Now you've listened to my story, here's the point that I have made:
Skeeters come to give you fever, be it Fahrenheit or Centigrade
They give you fever - when you miss them, fever if you lack concern
Fever - till you sizzle, what a lousy way to burn.
What a lousy way to burn.
What a lousy way to burn.