The sudden death of pro surfing legend Andy Irons
sent shock waves through the surfing community and many of are left looking for answers. Anytime
someone so full of life and vitality passes we question our own mortality and need to come to terms with why these things happen. There are no answers to our hurt and pain. I believe that things like this have to happen to wake us up to how precious life is and how easily it can be taken away from us in an instant. Ok, how many times have we heard those clichés? We have heard them a lot and the pain still lingers long after our friend or loved one is gone. Now what?
I think we ease the pain by reaching out to others and sharing some part of ourselves with them. In this case, I believe it is important to make people aware of what exactly it was that took the life of an incredible surfer and an even more incredible person. Andy’s life was cut short by a viral infection called dengue (pronounced dhen-gay). The virus is passed by infected mosquitoes and if left untreated it can turn into the potentially fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever. Dengue is widespread in the Caribbean basin and countries with a tropical climate, however it is believed that Andy was infected while surfing at the Rip Curl Pro Search in Portugal. He withdrew from the competition in Puerto Rico and was on his way home when he became fatally ill.
What are the symptoms? The symptoms vary, but typically it begins with high fever, severe headaches, rashes, pinpoint pain behind the eyes, and muscle and joint pain. Most sufferers also experience nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite. If you experience these symptoms, get to your health care provider as soon as possible. While most cases of dengue are mild and go away with prompt treatment, there are cases when it can progress to dengue hemorrhagic fever. When that happens, the blood vessels begin to leak in to the body and the person can bleed from the nose, gums and mouth. If left unchecked, the blood vessels can collapse and send the person into shock. The virus is fatal in about 5% of the cases.
Now that you have the basics of what dengue is and does, it is even more important to know how to protect yourself without giving up the things you love. The mosquito that carries dengue strikes during the daytime hours, so it is vitally important to use repellant during those hours. Repellants that contain between 20-30% of the active ingredient Deet are effective. When you are out in the water, it is best to use a waterproof repellant, such as Off! Skintastic with SPF 30 sunscreen. This gives you the added protection of sunscreen while you are out there enjoying the water. Remember to reapply the repellant after coming out of the water. Of course, if you aren’t out enjoying the waves and water, it is always advisable to wear long sleeve shirts and pants for protection.
The death of Andy Irons has shone a spotlight on a relatively unknown killer. Let’s honor Andy and his legacy by getting the word out about dengue and being proactive in keeping ourselves safe and supporting the creation of effective vaccines.
For more information on the dengue vaccine and how you can help, check out the following URL’s: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-08/nioa-hct080910.php and www.pdvi.org
Source
Division of Vector Borne and Infectious Diseases (2010). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/dengue//
Rincon Surf & Skate 