Health Alert
Dengue Fever: Global Update
Updated June 29, 2015Travel Health Notice
Outbreaks of dengue fever have become increasingly frequent over the past 25 years.
Dengue fever
is a disease spread to humans by mosquitoes and is caused by one of four types of dengue viruses. Dengue fever can cause severe flu-like symptoms and in some cases, may lead to dengue haemorrhagic fever (severe dengue), which can be fatal.
There is no vaccine or medication that protects against dengue fever.
The Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that travellers protect themselves from mosquito bites when travelling to areas where dengue fever may occur.
Where is dengue fever a concern?
Dengue fever occurs (is endemic) in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world. There is a risk of dengue in Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, the Eastern Mediterranean, South and Southeast Asia, and Oceania. A map of the areas where dengue fever occurs is available from the World Health Organization.
Dengue fever occurs mainly in urban and semi-urban areas. Countries affected by the rainy season are expected to have an increase in dengue cases.
As of May 2015, Malaysia reported more cases when compared to the same time period in 2014.
As of June 2015, Brazil has reported over a million suspected cases. This is much higher than the number of cases reported in the same time period in 2014.
In China, over 47,000 cases of dengue were reported in 2014. This was mainly due to an outbreak of dengue reported in Guangdong province near the end of 2014.
Recommendations
Consult a health care provider or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel.
- Protect yourself from mosquito bites, particularly during peak mosquito biting times around sunrise and sunset.
- If you develop symptoms similar to dengue fever when you are travelling or after you return, see a health care provider and tell them where you have been travelling or living.