a day ago
Question of the Week: How concerned are you about dengue fever?
How concerned are you about dengue fever?
Editor's note: It's vacation time. That means you'll have two weeks to make your voice heard on today's topic. Question of the Week will return on Sunday, Aug. 31.
I live beachside and have for 20 years. This is literally the first year I've had to buy citronella candles to ward off mosquitos in my backyard.
Actually, my front porch rockers have seen little use this year because of those blood-sucking pests as well.
Other than the annoying buzzing in the ear and pinches of pain, I never really gave the loathsome insect much thought. Until now, that is. As reported by my colleague, Jim Waymer, experts are puzzled at why a disease ― spread by mosquitoes ― that typically affects the tropics has made its way to Brevard County for the first
I'm talking about dengue fever. The Florida Health Department has confirmed eight cases of the illness here on the Space Coast, a number that might be higher by the time you read this.
Dengue fever? Sounds like something from a Tarzan movie. What's next, malaria?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dengue fever can cause flu-like symptoms ―including severe muscle aches and joint pain, fever, and maybe even a rash-- ranging from mild to potentially fatal if left untreated.
It takes about two weeks for symptoms to start showing up. Great. Another thing to worry about.
This dengue fever news came out a few days before World Mosquito Day on Aug. 20. No, it's not a celebration of the deadly insect, but rather a day to recognize the deadly impact on global health this insect has.
Mosquito expert Gordon Patterson wrote a column this week about the simple things we can do to minimize risk of getting a mosquito-borne disease. The main thing is to eliminate standing water on your property, like open trash bins that have collected rain. This is where mosquitoes breed, lay eggs.
I'm not gonna lie, I'm concerned about the number of mosquitoes I'm seeing lately and this tropical illness that has come to our county. I'm curious to know what you think about it. And that brings us to the Question of the Week:
Are you concerned about mosquito-borne illnesses, like dengue fever? Why or why not?
You can scan the QR code that is on the print edition page or go to
Please leave a comment telling us why you voted the way you did. In order for your comment or email to be published on our website and in next week's print edition, you must include your first and last name.
You can also shoot me an email with "mosquito" in the subject line. I look forward to reading your responses.
Last Sunday I asked:
Is the Department of Homeland Security out of line in trying to recruit local officers assisting them during immigration sweeps? Why or why not?
Results:
Your comments:
I don't have a problem with ICE recruiting from other law enforcement agencies, a standard practice.I do have a problem with ICE's massive, disproportional budget that puts local understaffed LEO's at a major disadvantage as they're unable to compete with lucrative offers. ICE funding allocations have also contributed to increasing the federal debt despite GOP legislators reducing funding to vital programs that serve We The People.
-- Kathy Ojeda
The only way to recruit is to offer incentives. Umfortimately for local authorities their departments act as a stepping stone for the officers to better themselves. Competition for employees will always result in higher wages.
-- Gregory Sanders
Terrible that ICE will use the good intentions of Florida Sheriffs like our Wayne Ivey. It's truly a stab in the back:. No good deed goes unpunished! But wait, the sheriffs should by now know Trump will deceive and toss anyone under his bus to get his way. Sorry sheriffs, when you sleep with the devil you get no good end. Be careful in the future what you quickly agree to.
-- H.L. Singer
Why not? If DHS has this much excess funding to use in recruiting, why not recruit existing LEOs? Makes sense to me. Another source for DHS would be soon to separate Military Police. I won't say this of BCSD, but usually when the term poaching is used, the 'poacher' is usually offering better working conditions, or better pay, or better benefits.
-- Greg Pierce
80,000 have already applied, no need to poach.
-- John Weller
It's called competition. As an exteme example, a few AI techno-nerds are the beneficiaries of NBA-like salaries. Yes, ICE recruiting creates problems on the local level but for now it's good to be a cop for a change! Disclaimer: I am neither a cop nor even related to one.
-- John Pare
This is still, at least for now, a free country. Everyone has the right to offer, receive, and consider job opportunities. There are too many politicians that want to control everything. And why wouldn't we want individuals to advance their careers and improve their financial situation? It seems personal rights and free speech matter only when things go your way. I also want our best to stay local, but they have free will.
-- Jennifer A. Roberts
Not only is ICE out of line recruiting, but offering the incentives of money, power and weapons surely attract the wrong individuals for the job. It seems they are following orders that defy our Constitution, enabled by a President who has chosen to ignore that document.
-- Linda Moore
A secret police force should not exist in the United States. This mirrors the beginning of the Nazi takeover of Germany. It continues with the assault on freedom of the press, the universities, and voting rights. All of this is the Nazi playbook. Wake up!
-- Catherine Kornek
ICE recruitment efforts are part of the free market. While viewed as bad taste by Sheriff Ivey, I view it as opportunity to help the country while promoting excellent Sheriff deputies and opening up opportunities for more local and regional recruitment by Sheriff Ivey. This means he will have to be more competitive and the County will pay more which overall will lift the Police community through higher pay, bonuses and benefits.
-- Brian Wilkins
Our Governor and most County and City law enforcement agencies and some State agencies such as FWC, have proudly helped detain and deport illegals including those with not even a speeding ticket. They also likely supported ICE's expansion.
How could these patriotic action backfire? Well this support for ICE will weaken most law enforcement agencies as they raid lower paying law enforcement agencies.
Local law enforcement wages are low and constrained by an unwillingness to raise property taxes. Now there will be more pressure to raise those wages and more property taxes to pay for them. Meanwhile our Governor wants to eliminate property taxes and raise other taxes which would be controlled by the State. This will make our counties go to the State to beg for tax money that will apparently come from a substantial increase in sales taxes. Meanwhile the State DOGE will cut funding for all counties.
Instead of complaining, Sheriffs like Ivey should be proud that ICE values their employees. Local law enforcement will just have to do more with less. Because we deserve quick response by our law enforcement officials.
-- Anthony Carrollo
Contact Torres at jtorres@ You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres
Multimedia editor Rob Landers contributed to this report.
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