Dengue prevention!
In its latest travellers’ health update, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that travellers to parts of the Caribbean, Central and South America Western Pacific Islands, Australia, Southeast Asia and Africa are at risk of contracting dengue.
The disease is viral and is spread through mosquito bites. Symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, muscle and joint pain and minor bleeding. In severe cases, haemorrhage, organ failure and death can occur.
As there is currently no vaccine available to prevent dengue, prevention methods such as covering up and using insect repellant are key. Therefore, the CDC’s recommendation for healthcare practitioners is to advise patients travelling to destinations where there is a high risk of dengue to take measures to protect themselves from mosquito bites.