Maya Gates

"This lovely lady is dreaming…or is she? Maybe Maya Gates is under the spell of a voodoo witch doctor or maybe she’s contracted the dreaded island fever. What is that? We’re glad you asked. Known in medical circles as scrub typhus, island fever is a debilitating disease that is passed to humans bitten by an infected tick, mite or chigger. (The name scrub typhus came about because the host vermin primarily inhabit heavy vegetation along sandy coastal areas.) Without treatment - typically the antibiotics tetracycline or chloramphenicol - approximately 30% of victims die. Island fever is somewhat of a misnomer. While residents of Pacific islands are most vulnerable, the disease also surfaces on the mainland of Southeast Asia as well as in Pakistan, Australia and the Korean Peninsula. Early symptoms of island fever begin to emerge anywhere from six to 14 days after a bite from a carrier insect. These include an extremely high fever (around 104 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit) that tends to be accompanied by a severe headache. Swelling in the lymph nodes is frequently manifest about a week into the illness, at which time a rash may also appear. In rare cases, island fever may also affect the central nervous system, causing delirium, impaired speech or hearing difficulties. A successful vaccine for island fever hasn’t been developed, but wearing long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants may cut down the risk of contracting the disease in areas where it is known to exist. Use of insect repellents containing DEET also reduces the risk of a bite. Even with these interventions, it is possible to contract island fever. Unfortunately, there is no totally effective prevention protocol.”

Hair: Black, Eyes: Dark Brown, Bust: 32C, Waist:28, Hips:34, Height: 5'5" Weight: 105 lbs