As is the case with most Filipinos who have immigrated abroad, this is the season we do not look forward to. This is the season where we worry about our families back in the Philippines.

For those not familiar with this topic, it is the hot and rainy season in the Philippines. What this means is there are many puddles or pools of water scattered around making for the perfect breeding ground for everyone’s favorite the mosquito.

What makes this in the category of Life Here & There is actually a very simple comparison. Mosquitoes that live in Wisconsin are an annoyance. They can snack on your blood and leave an itchy red spot. But they do not carry any diseases to be concerned about in the temperate areas like Wisconsin. The reason why is the weather and the temperature. It isn’t warm enough for them. For half of the year, they are frozen or dead or buried their eggs in ponds to re-emerge when it warms up again. Further south, there are issues with the West Nile virus but it is not common.

What are common in the Philippines though are fatal viruses carried by the nasty mosquitoes there. Most of my readers probably have had one of these viruses in their time in the Philippines or know someone who has had it and beaten it or had it and died.

Dengue fever is one that I have had. Should you survive the first round with it, this unpleasant thing hits you harder the second, third or fourth time you get it. It goes for the heart and is generally one of the more lethal mosquito borne viruses you can get.

The other one is malaria. I have nieces that are young so of course this is a concern to me. Also my extended family has suffered from this bug and I do not want to see any of them get this disease. Sure I’ve got my share of interesting relatives but we all have our immediate families to be concerned about.

So here is to my family back in the Phils and to those all of my readers know as well. Please stay safe.

Thank you,

Anah

Photo from

http://rebekahusry.wordpress.com/2008/02/17/our-field-trip-to-mosquito-control/

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