Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever

The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that "... some 2.5 billion people – two fifths of the world's population – are now at risk from dengue. WHO currently estimates there may be 50 million dengue infections worldwide every year. In 2007 alone, there were more than 890 000 reported cases of dengue in the Americas, of which 26 000 cases were DHF."

Symptoms of Dengue fever

Key Facts: Dengue and dengue haemorrhagic fever. 

• Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes a severe flu-like illness, and sometimes a potentially lethal complication called dengue haemorrhagic fever.
• Global incidence of dengue has grown dramatically in recent decades.
• About two fifths of the world's populations are now at risk. 
• Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. 
• Dengue haemorrhagic fever is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian countries.
• There is no specific treatment for dengue, but appropriate medical care frequently saves the lives of patients with the more serious dengue haemorrhagic fever.
• The only way to prevent dengue virus transmission is to combat the disease-carrying mosquitoes.

Read more about Dengue, its transmission, characteristics, treatment, immunization, prevention and control at   WHO media centre. 

Prevention of Dengue in Travelers by American Society of Microbiology (ASM) 

According to ASM, "... There is no completely effective method of preventing dengue infection in travelers visiting tropical areas. The risk of infection can be significantly decreased, however, by understanding the basic behavior and feeding habits of the mosquito vector and by taking a few simple precautions to decrease exposure to infective mosquito bites. 

Female A. aegypti mosquitoes prefer to feed indoors, with peak biting activity occurring for 2 to 3 hours after daybreak and for 3 to 4 hours before nightfall. 

Although the risk may be higher at these times, it is important to remember that the mosquito may feed indoors at anytime during the day as well as outdoors, especially on overcast days. 

Precautions, therefore, include staying in screened or air-conditioned rooms, spraying these rooms with aerosol bomb insecticides to kill adult mosquitoes indoors (especially in bedrooms), using a repellent containing dimethyl-metatoluamide (DEET) on exposed skin, and wearing protective clothing treated with a similar repellant. 

The risk of exposure may be lower in modern, air-conditioned hotels with well-kept grounds and in rural areas."   Source: American Society of Microbiology

Symptoms of Dengue fever - more information.


Symptoms and What to Do If You Think You Have Dengue - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The principal symptoms of dengue are:

· High fever and at least two of the following:

o Severe headache

o Severe eye pain (behind eyes)

o Joint pain

o Muscle and/or bone pain

o Rash

o Mild bleeding manifestation (e.g., nose or gum bleed, petechiae, or easy bruising)

o Low white cell count

Generally, younger children and those with their first dengue infection have a milder illness than older children and adults.

Watch for warning signs as temperature declines 3 to 7 days after symptoms began.

Go IMMEDIATELY to an emergency room or the closest health care provider if any of the following warning signs appear:

·         Severe abdominal pain or persistent vomiting

·         Red spots or patches on the skin

·         Bleeding from nose or gums

·         Vomiting blood

·         Black, tarry stools (feces, excrement)

·         Drowsiness or irritability

·         Pale, cold, or clammy skin

·         Difficulty breathing

Like to know more about Travelers’ Health, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

More information on how to Reduce risk. Click here. 

Avoid being bitten.

You should take immediate action to prevent mosquito bites during the day, particularly early morning and late afternoon by using:

• cockroach surface sprays indoors in dark places such as behind cupboards and under beds and tables where dengue mosquitoes like to rest 
• personal insect repellents
• plug-in zappers indoors 
• flying insect spray (knockdown spray) in the air. 
• Get rid of dengue mosquito breeding sites

Dengue mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water. The dengue mosquito does not breed in rivers, swamps, open drains, creeks or mangroves. These mosquitoes do not like to travel far from mosquito breeding sites. The best form of control is to get rid of dengue mosquito breeding sites around the home. Dengue mosquitoes breed in containers that hold water, such as:

• buckets
• tyres – discarded with no rims 
• tarpaulins and black plastic 
• pot plant bases · vases 
• boats
• tin cans and plastic containers
• roof guttering 
• rainwater tanks with damaged or missing screens 
• birdbaths
• drain sumps
• fallen palm fronds
• striking containers (to grow plant cuttings)
• coconut shells.

"Stop the mosquito breeding -  and you can stop the disease." 

Take precautionary measures and you will have a good VACATION." 

More links on Dengue Fever

Dengue fever
Dengue Fever (management plan) for North Australia:
How to reduce risk of Dengue Fever.
Reduce risk.