Epidemic!

The dry weather has driven down the number of mosquitoes but for some reason greatly magnified one particular, small, low-flying species which carries dengue fever. This is by far the worst epidemic we have seen. FCOP has had over 200 children and staff come down with this very painful and potentially fatal disease in the past two months. There was actually a shortage of IV fluids at one point and only FCOP's Dr Lina was able to locate some through the grace of God. We are very grateful for Dr. Lina as he has had little rest this month. Hospitals are overcrowded and transfusion blood is in low supply. This disease is called "Break-bone Fever" and it makes your joints and bones feel as if they will break. Dengue is one of the only diseases that causes the white blood count to go down, which is the primary means for diagnosing it. Our greatest blessing is that, even though hundreds of Cambodians have succumbed to the disease, no one in our homes has died from it, and the intensity of infection seems to be subsiding.

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