Survive & Thrive & Tour!

This post is the 500th on this blog, which is quite a milestone!

Today's a busy day on the blog since I'm kicking off a blog tour and taking part in the Survive & Thrive Bloghop hosted by Stephen Tremp, Michael Di Gesu, Diane Wolfe, and Captain Alex. This effort is aimed at disease prevention and early detection of medical conditions that are treatable.

The Chikungunya Virus

In recent months, Jamaicans have been stricken by the Chikungunya virus. It is projected that 7 of 10 persons will eventually suffer from this infection, which has no known cure. Those infected are given painkillers to deal with the severe joint pains that limit movement. 

Many have come down with the virus because of lack of preparation. Public service announcements have been running for months to warn people about the carrier, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, and the fact that we need to eliminate mosquito breeding sites around the home.

As a result of not paying attention to these advisories, many are now suffering from the Chikungunya virus that has only entered the Caribbean within the last year, although it has been around since the 50s. One unique thing about the virus is that it exacerbates existing health conditions, causing complications that have led to death in a few cases. Jamaicans can find a joke in any situation and so when asked how they are doing, some persons will say they are recovering, having been shot by the 'Chikengunman'.

Where there are outbreaks of disease, my advice would be to educate yourself on the symptoms by listening to advisories, doing your own research and putting the things learned into practice. So far, I've been lucky to escape being bitten by the carriers and hope that with continued vigilance I'll stay healthy.

Thanks to H.R. Sinclair, I dredged up the energy for a blog tour and yes, it's one with a difference. The Island Adventure Blog Train will be making several stops (see sidebar) over the next couple of weeks, so do visit the stops when you have a minute. 

The series is made up of romantic suspense books that are set in the Caribbean. Each novel stands alone, but several characters appear more than once.

My first stop is with Christina C. Jones, contemporary romance writer. 

Come on over and let's get this party started! See what giveaways are up for grabs over at Christina's place.

Only a couple of weeks are left before the Who's Your Hero? Blogfest. It's as simple as the badge explains it, but if you're stumped for ideas, click here. Sign up below if you wanna play. My wonderful co-host is MichelleWallace and we'll be giving out three $5.00 Amazon vouchers. 

Are you anywhere near 500 posts on your blog? Participating in the Survive & Thrive Blog Hop? Signed up for the Who's Your Hero Blogfest?

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