Sailor Antoine Cornic is affected by dengue fever, a tropical disease, while he is currently participating in the transatlantic race “Return to Base”, which links Martinique to Lorient.
- In the middle of the transatlantic race, skipper Antoine Cornic contracted dengue fever, a tropical disease.
- Dengue fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of an Aedes mosquito.
- After the incubation period, dengue fever can cause high fever, headache, nausea and vomiting.
On November 30, skipper Antoine Cornic took the start of the transatlantic race Return to Base, which links Martinique to Lorient. Unfortunately, the latter contracted dengue fever during his stay on the tropical island at the finish of the last Transat Jacques-Vabre, where he finished in 30th place with Jean-Charles Luro on his Imoca “Human Immobilier”.
A deckchair that turns into an ordeal for Antoine Cornic affected by dengue fever
The sailor began experiencing significant symptoms related to dengue fever on the night of Friday December 1st to Saturday December 2nd. “Dengue fever is crazy! I’m devastated with fatigue. Yesterday (Sunday), I maneuvered seven times during the day, I had to collapse on my mattress. I can’t move a sail ( …) A ten-minute maneuver took me 40 and I can no longer fight. I drink, I sweat, I shiver, I’m completely burnt out! When you know that this disease comes from a mosquito, which doesn’t make a single half gram…”he told the newspaper The TelegramMonday, December 4.
Also called tropical flu, dengue fever is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito. Aedes. The manifestations appear suddenly after four to ten days of incubation. The patient may then suffer from high fever, headaches, nausea and vomiting. “The symptoms persist for two to seven days and the state of health of the infected person generally progresses favorably. Convalescence can last around two weeks. “Classic” dengue fever, although very disabling, is not considered to be a severe illness”can we read on the platform of the Pasteur Institute. In certain cases, dengue fever can, however, progress to “severe” dengue fever, which can result in two serious forms: dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome.
Difficulties navigating and completing the race
Nearly five days after the start of his ordeal, Antoine Cornic is still in pain and has difficulty maneuvering on his boat.. “I cried in pain, I even vomited, but the result is there: the sail is at the top, it’s not necessarily the right one, but it’s the one that I will be able to manage the most easily if the wind is rising… I’m going straight, I’m no longer following the routing. I’m doing everything to get back and bring the boat back.”described the skipper in a statement of the organization Return to base.
Due to his physical condition, the sailor is therefore not able to sail as he should. He is currently in 28th place, around 2,500 miles from the finish. “I no longer look at the postponement of positions: it makes me even sadder, I had my heart set on fighting on this transatlantic race (…) Well, I’m fighting, believe me, even if it’s not really what that I had imagined. I will do everything to bring the beast back to safety! I am strong, but here, I am a piece of rag placed on the back of the chair: without strength and washed out. I will succeed, I I have no choice”, said Antoine Cornic.
