There is very much conflicting information on the board at this time. One person says everything will be O.K. in a couple weeks. Then some one else says don't come for at least 30 days or more. One poster even indicated that disease would be rampant for the next few weeks. I am set to arrive Nov. 3rd, my tour operator says all will be O.K. I don't want to put my family at risk, but don't want deprive San Pedro of much needed revenue either. Any concrete information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

Kim,
Where are you booked to stay....and what were your plans as far as activities?
We now have power, water and phone. Much of the debris has been cleared. The north and south ends are still pretty bad but they are working hard to get things ready for tourist season in November.

If you will be staying in town....things should be pretty good. some places were hit harder than others.

Let me know and I'll try to find out something definate for you.

Tammy

I am suppose to stay at Paradise Villas and would like to dive with Hustler Tours or Amigos Del Mar. Thank you Tammy, any thing you can find ouy would be great. Also if I come, is there anything I could bring along that would be helpful for people at that time?

Maybe I read her question wrong, but I think her main concern is about DESEASES and she is concerned for her family.
Seems like a VERY VALID question.
Are deseases going to be(are)rampant?
CDC should have posted something somewhere on this issue.
Have they?
Peace. June

NO DISEASES ARE RAMPANT-
man calm down people. conditions are such that it is wise to take precautions. no more, no less.

READ BEFORE YOU START WRITING PANICKY STATEMENTS. Just take a minute, this is posted elsewhere. Dont' just freak out and start writing godawful stuff or i will crank up my purger.

BE RESPONSIBLE. DON'T SHOUT RUMORS FROM THE TALLEST COCONUT TREE

=================

My wife remembers Hurricane Janet hitting Corozal in 1955. The stench of
the "rotting" mud left everywhere after the hurricane passed was
terrible
and they thought it only could be due to rotting bodies. It smelled just
like dead and rotting meat -- a decomposing corpse.

But no, it was simply decaying mud.

I believe that people are experiencing this same sensation at this time
in
San Pedro.

Hurricane Keith pushes a lot of lagoon bottom mud up onto land. This mud
is
very rich in microscopic life forms. The decaying of these life forms
smell
as they should -- dead meat rotting.

It is reasonable to assume that the people in and around this area at
present believe this "stench" is due to human corpses. Though it is
always
possible that corpses of animals and humans may be buried and decaying
--
we have no missing people reports to substantiate this.

Therefore I feel it is reasonable to assume there is not corpses rotting
in
this mud -- simply microscopic animals -- as always occurs under these
circumstances.

Peter Singfield


[This message has been edited by Marty (edited 10-12-2000).]

E-mail me ryans@closingcorp.com

Does anyone know if the CDC HAS posted information on this board/in the city/at tourist sites/etc.? If they HAVE NOT put out a bulletin on deseases in the aftermath of hurricane Keith, then you should get in touch with them if you still have concerns. Any concerns for the welfare of ones family is always valid. If CDC says there is nothing to be concerned about, you can believe them ! Peace. June

Celeste seems to know more about diseases, mosquitoes and ceptic streets since she is the one who first brought it up....LOL. ASK HER!!!!!!

you tell em Marty, Go man Go. People freak out no doubt.

I think that all of you sarcastic people should go there. I have a five year old son and was told by Dr. Lerida Rodriguez, my good friend and neighbor that these conditions create an atmosphere for disease (she used the word "epidemic"). She referred me to what happened in Honduras and Guatemala in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Do you know Lerida? is she a sensationalist? She has worked thru this whole thing helping patients at her own expense.

Most people who know me would say I'm a no nonsense, down to earth kind of person. I don't have high maintenance hair or makeup and have no interest in pulling a fire alarm in a crowded theater.

So, LJ, Kim, all you people who think I'm warning without cause; please - book your flight today. By the way, how long have you lived in San Pedro? Do you rely on tourism dollars to feed your family? I do. Yesterday morning, I counted almost 60 mosquito bites on my son (he is allergic to them, by the way) and this was in a closed room with 2 mosquito coils going and bug repellant on.

You're starting to [#%!] me off by insinuating that I am imagining the conditions in San Pedro. I have a right to help inform those who are interested. Until you can prove i'm lying, shut up.

PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Belize
October 6, 2000
While cleanup and repair efforts in Belize are underway in the wake of Hurricane Keith, power and telephone lines throughout the country continue to function only sporadically, and remain out on Belize's coastal islands. Commercial flights within and out of Belize have resumed. American citizens considering travel to Belize should monitor local conditions before coming to a decision, especially in the main tourist areas off the coast of Belize.

The Department of State has lifted the authorized departure status of American personnel in non-emergency positions and of family members of American personnel. Most Peace Corps Volunteers in Belize have returned to their assignments. Those Volunteers who are unable to return to regular duty because of adverse conditions are assisting with relief efforts in Belize City.

This replaces the Travel Warning issued October 1, 2000, to reflect improving conditions in Belize in the aftermath of Hurricane Keith and to note the lifting of authorized departure status of non-emergency U.S. Government personnel and their dependents. This Public Announcement expires on October 31, 2000.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Department of State travel information and publications are available at Internet address: http://travel.state.gov. U.S. travelers may hear recorded information by calling the Department of State in Washington, D.C. at 202-647-5225 from their touchtone telephone, or receive information by automated telefax by dialing 202-647-3000 from their fax machine.

My dive partner and myself are due to arrive San Pedro on Oct 21 and stay at the Royal Palms which I understand is in pretty good shape except for the power at this time. Have been unable to contact them to find out if we will have a place to stay. Would be willing to take along some tools along with our dive and fishing gear to help out anyway that we can. Can you find out if we have a chance of pulling this off. We waited a long time to make this trip and are willing to do whatever it takes to come on this date.

hello marty and sandshaker...we have posponed our trip til oct21-25, the owner at seven seas says everything is good there and it's o.k to come there. i assume that there is still alot of damage but i'm worried about the diseases. can you post the conditions for us?
sandshaker still looking forward to meeting you. good to see you back on the board.

Celeste...as I said, I agree with you and any concerns about ones family are always valid! Again, I would advise you to talk with the CDC, tho if I were you,I would also go by what your friend told you.
God bless.
Peace. June

Thanks for the support, June.

To the guy who wants to go to Royal Palm: That property was probably the least hardest hit of any that I visited. Just a few window broken, roofs in excellent shape. They are a mile and a half south of town, so they may be operating off of a generator shortly, but all considered they are intact. Even the swimming pool was still clear. LOL

Celeste, you are in more of a position to know the real conditions in San Pedro than the smart-ass, sarcastic people who are giving you a hard time. Don't let them shut you up. Hmmm, what do they have to gain by encouraging people to go there soon???

I have sent an email to CDC to find out if there are any health risks. Will keep you posted.

Must be travel agents. Probably have never even been to Belize.....

Whoa! Celeste, I have not posted on this thread until now, and I sent you an apology on the other one. If your harsh words are directed at me, you need to reconsider. And, once again, I do not think anyone is saying that you are a liar. We ALL (those of us who were not there) want reliable information and all we are saying is that we are getting conflicting reports. I do not think anyone means to attack you.

Amen Kim!!! Thanks........LOL....

Celeste, dont blame travel agents. Some of us do sincerely care about this whole situation. And we are doing our best to help ! (and I have been to belize several time)

WHHHHOOOOOAAAAAAA!

Everybody take a deep cleansing breath......*sigh*

Now shake your arms at your sides, roll your head around and get all the kinks and stress out of those shoulders.
Now...doesn't that feel better???

This is a real simple situation, and ALL have valid points.

1. There is a lot of destruction and debris around. Mostly boards with nails sticking out of them, broken glass, sharp shredded tin,etc. There are also other factors though. A lot of water is still standing, which breeds mosquitos, our water supply was interupted and COULD be contaminated. (notice I did not say is...) There is dead material including plant and animal life. Mold spores and mildew will be at a high level.

2. If you are traveling here within the next 2 weeks....you can expect that your trip will NOT be optimal. Even in the next month it may still be bad.

3. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so if you have concerns about any of the illnesses that can come from a situation like this....either postpone the trip till things are better or get the proper vaccines before coming.

YES.....these are concerns...that COULD become a reality. At the present, they are NOT, and hopefully, we can prevent that from happening.
There are a lot of respiratory infections right now due to not only airborne bacteria and mold and mildew, but also just from the drastic weather conditions. People start having sinus problems and then get all clogged up and....Viola'...you've got a full blown head and chest cold.

You can follow the CDC if you want, but I say good old common sense and knowing the current situation and possibilities is the best indicator of what you should prepare for.

I personally would rather wait to vacation here when I could fully enjoy the beauty of San Pedro. Let everything get somewhat back to normal..then come. Things are moving quickly now. We have all the utilities back now, so things should start moving quicker.

Celeste, sorry bout your buddy's bites....sounds bad
You are in Mobile with him now?
Daub him up with lots of Calamine and Cortisone....tell him it's his new Halloween costume....LOL

Thank you. I will help with information on whoever/whatever I can. Now that my family is safe here, I can consider returning to Belize to help. Until then, I would be happy to pass messages on people and places that I saw.

Spirits are high in San Pedro and many who have lost everything are helping others to save what they can. The town will be on its feet and ready for tourists soon, but not tomorrow and probably not next week. Now that the internet cafe (Coconet) is up and running, news will come more regularly from those that are still there.

Messengers are needed greatly. Maybe Chris and Sandshaker will be able to mobilize people that have bicycles and the time to go check on people and property. Lets hope it happens soon so that minds and hearts can be eased. Thanks for understanding.

Sandshaker, you said it best. Hope people take heed. Carter's going to be fine, a bubble bath, neosporin and the pleasure of his cousins' company have helped a lot. We're in Mobile, but our hearts and thoughts are still there with you all. Let me know if I can be of help in any way.

Some facts:
1. Ambergris Caye always has more mosquitos when it rains and standing water accumulates (as anywhere). In makes sense to use bug spray, citris burners, etc.
However, the major health threat caused by mosquitos is malaria. To the best of my knowledge (having researched this a bit a couple of years ago because I was getting many inquiries from guests), there has NEVER been a documented incident of someone getting malaria from a bug bite on AC. Malaria vectors (the mosquitos who carry the bug) have yet to be identified on Ambergris Caye, though they are definitely present in high numbers in certain parts of the mainland.
PROPHYLACTICS: Because the relative risk of catching malaria on AC is so low compared to the much greater risk of an adverse reaction from the most commonly used prophylactics (and the reaction rate is fairly high) I would personally NOT advise anyone to do this for a visit to AC. If, however, you were planning a lengthy stay camping in the bush on the mainland, especially Toledo District and Cayo District, I would probably take the risk of side effects and get the shot.

BACTERIAL DISEASE: Bacterial disease and particularly cholera, is always possible when you have a disaster that damages infrastructure. However, cholera is a disease of poverty. It is most likely to occur when large numbers of people are not able to practice the #1 anti cholera prophylactic: HAND WASHING. At the same time, when poverty delays repair of sewage, water, burials and other triggers, the risk increases. Many places have hurricanes and tornados and don't have cholera epidemics.
If these repairs are promptly made and precautions are taken (handwashing, a few drops of clorox in drinking water, or boiling water, ensuring that cisterns are disinfected, not peeling fruit and veggies before eating it, knowing where your food has been prepared and stored will protect you. Medical teams fly into cholera epidemics often and rarely become ill because they are able to take these precautions.
I would say that a cholera epidemic is very unlikely on AC if the community is smart enough to know that repairs and rebuilding of that which is important to public health must be done EVERYWHERE right away and not just for the people who can afford to pay for it for themselves. Being your brothers' keeper is an excellent way to stay healthy.

I think Sandshaker said it all pretty well in a nutshell. Although I had my heart set to go for Thanksgiving, we now rescheduled until May! It will sure be a long wait by the time we get there, but well worth it. Who wants to spend all your hard earned money and vacation time on what we have seen in the pictures?

Oops, I made a typo: You SHOULD peel fruit and veggies before eating them, rather than eating already unpeeled fruit if you do not know its from a safe source. (Don't know where the "not" came from. Once again the hand is faster than the brain!)

You're right, Laurie. I think we'll re-schedule as well due to several posts of today. I was so looking forward to visiting AC next month too! Will let you know what/when we decide to do.

Carolyn - we are bummed! But, made the decision to still go, just another time. I was looking forward to meeting everybody that was supposed to be there for Thanksgiving and my work prevents me from going down until May. New dates are 5/5/01 to 5/13/01. Seems so far away!!!

Laurie

LOL @ Susangg.....

Just washed those fingers and can't do a damn thing with 'em...right?

Sandshaker, you are sooooooo baaaaaaaad!
We are glad to see your sense of humor intact, the rest of us are afraid to joke much, for fear of being criticized, under the present conditions of our Ambergris. We are loving your laughter tho, you deserve to laugh finally.

[This message has been edited by Chloe (edited 10-10-2000).]

from someone who goes every year and then
some...any mosquito in any county finds me,
including here in AZ...malaria has been
reported on A.C. and in fact 6-7 yrs. ago during a trip at Christmas time,
I got Dengue fever(similar to malaria in
some regards)from a bite and was waaaaayyyyy
sick!! Nothing you can take to prevent it
either...There's also 3 strains of it and
one is deadly. The pills for malaria prevention have to be taken in advance of
going (I recall 3-4 weeks)...during your
stay and after your return....Some of us are
highly allergic to meds and I simply couldn't
take this...(had to cancel and reschedule
a Belize trip once)...sick, sick....I say,
if you can change trip plans and go later...
do it...don't take any chances with your health!

This is the best site I've seen on ALL Mosquito Related Illnesses.
http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/disease.html



[This message has been edited by Sandshaker (edited 10-10-2000).]

well Belize you now have something in common with Washington DC. Mosquitoes!!! People here are freaky about the West Nile Virus. I hope the meek dont inherit the earth in my lifetime.

SandShaker:
"The meek shall inherit the Earth, when the strong have sucked the last heaving wheeze from it's soot-caked lungs!" I heard Paisano was okay; crazy bastard was probably out with a kite and a key...
Incidentally, if you happen to see Fitz from Jambel say "Hi!" for me...oh, and that freckle-faced, red-headed Judy Hancock whizzing around on her golf cart, have her send me an email so I can verify she's okay...why can't you guys take up safe activities like sky-diving or rock-climbing???
And Chedd is the divemaster for Billy Leslie over at Hustler's...Lou knows him...
Glad it's getting better,
E.

Well just to put my two cents in, I was just there on Thursday to visit our water plant and I'll like to share the following;

1. THE WATER COMING OUT OF THE WATER PLANT AND GOING INTO THE PIPELINES IS NOT CONTAMINIATED!!!!!! However, I would not drink water coming out of wells or cisterns as those are contamination risks...Check with your hotel...

2. The majority of the damage I saw was superficial, roofing materials missing, debris everywhere but people were busy cleaning up..I'm sure a lot has been cleaned up since I was there. The places that suffered the most were the shanty type homes.

As Sandshaker said, the conditions aren't optimal as property owners are busy cleaning and conducting minor repairs in order to back online..once completed, I'm sure AC will look better then ever!

PS: Sandshaker, Jim and Sandy kavenough told me that they had met with you, once all this calms down you may want to touch base with them again

Kite and Key more than likely, that was Paisano. LOL

Belizewater....yes I did meet them...nice couple! I think Jim will be a big help to me. Before Keith came we had plans to take them to the north end when my boss came as we were going anyway and they had not been up there yet.
They said they were staying at the Hideaway. Are they still there?

Cute little note on Paisano...I was worried thru the whole stormabout where he was. The day I worked in the clinic, I turned around and there he was sitting in a chair right by the door. I said "Paisano, thank God your alright....I was worried about you" He says..."No..I'm good....I stayed in a nice room and got fed too!"
Apparently somebody put him up in a room somewhere. The details were sketchy...but was really glad to see him.

P.S. Emile....lou says Chedd is ok and has gone off the island for a bit.

Celeste.... Are you leaving the island, Debbie & Robin called & are concerned about the diseases also.... is there any new news of what to expect & what to do. ??? Worried up here in Canada....

Celeste.... Are you leaving the island, Debbie & Robin called & are concerned about the diseases also.... is there any new news of what to expect & what to do. ??? Worried up here in Canada....

Tammy,
Gee tanks, Toots! That means I can scratch one more of you pitbulls off my list...glad Chedd's alright. You are a tenacious lot, I must say! I've got a couple of pertinent questions to ask you when you get time to write; but not here.
When you get a minute...
E.

Larry,

Carter, Mothewr and I left Monday. We are in Mobile, Alabama. You need to read the story about the boatyard. Diseases? The last time I mentioned that, the other folks on this topic chewed me a new butthole. I'll just say that the possibility exists, especially due to the fact that most of the people "to the back" used outhouses. The surge was from the back. Where do you think all that sewage might be now? After hurricane Mitch, Honduras and Guatemala had epidemics. The rain has been coming quite hard since i left, from what I've heard. My son was damn near eaten alive by mosquitos, as well as my mother and myself (way, WAY more than usual). I am going to be careful in what I say from now on and just refer people to Tom and Sari's message that was posted by Marty. After reading that, what more confirmation do you need about the possiblity of health hazards (bodies floating around in the lagoon for a week) and the unavailability of medicines? Even Patty admits that they need cholera medicine, just in case.

I am so sorry for the families of those who lost their lives to this freak of nature. Hard to fathom what they're going through....

Take care, Larry. Keep in touch cphillips001@hotmail.com

Best wishes to all of the friends and family at Iguana Gardens and Barefoot Iguana
PS: Did BarefootSkinny and company really leave the Island Tuesday?

Hey, Emile!

Sandshaker, any idea how to reach my son, Chedd? Is he in Punta Gorda? Has Billy got a working phone yet? Thanks for any info.

Not sure Cap'n......I'll try to find out for you. give me a day or two.
Thanks.

tnx, i'll be watching

Hi Sandshaker,

Ya they are still at the Hideaway..and they plan to stay, they've become great friends with the owners so they want to rent one of the apartments from them and give them a hand fixing it up...they are amazing people! If you can't find them there, they'll be down at the plant...

Good deal! I'll be sure and go visit them.
Two very nice people...and a wonderful asset to this island. I for one am very glad to have them. The Hideaway is a great litlle place with down to earth people....I'm sure they will have happy times there.