Find out more about dengue

What is dengue?

Dengue is the fastest spreading mosquito-borne viral disease worldwide.1 European travellers have contracted dengue while visiting South America, The Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Oceania and in Europe itself.2,3

Dengue is a viral disease spread to humans through mosquito bites and there’s no specific treatment. It’s endemic in more than 100 countries worldwide.4 Dengue is usually a mild illness but in rare cases it could lead to hospitalisation.5

Impact of dengue

People with dengue may develop symptoms about 4 to 10 days after being bitten.5 Symptoms can be mild with flu-like symptoms, while others may contract a severe form of the virus, which requires hospitalisation.4 Although most dengue infections are generally mild and asymptomatic, an American study has revealed that ~40% (2,119/5,387) of returning travellers with recorded dengue were hospitalised, of which <1% (46/5,387) of these patients had severe dengue.4,6

Dengue symptoms can include: a high temperature, a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, feeling or being sick, swollen glands and a blotchy rash made up of flat or slightly raised spots (this can affect large areas of your body).5

In rare cases, dengue fever can be severe. Symptoms can include; abdominal pain, vomiting repeatedly, bleeding gums or nose, fast breathing, blood in your vomit or poo, being unable to relax (restlessness), and extreme tiredness (fatigue).5

There is no specific cure for dengue, only treatment of the symptoms. Seek medical advice from a healthcare professional if you [or your loved ones] develop a fever or flu-like symptoms up to two weeks after visiting an area where dengue can be found.5

How to protect yourself from dengue?

Dengue is the world’s most rapidly spreading mosquito-borne viral disease.7 But you can limit your chances of contracting dengue by taking simple steps to avoid mosquito bites.

  1. Use insect repellent that contains the active ingredient DEET. The Health Service Executive in Ireland recommend using products with 50 per cent DEET for adults and 15 to 30 per cent DEET for children to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes.5, 8
  2. Mosquitoes are present in both urban and rural areas and can be more active early in the morning and before dusk, so it’s a good idea to wear loose-fitting clothes that cover up your skin at these times of the day while travelling.5,9
  3. Use a mosquito net to protect you from dengue-carrying mosquitoes while you sleep.5
  4. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water, so be vigilant of water containers in and around your accommodation – keep them clean and empty to reduce the chance of egg laying.10
  5. Speak to your healthcare professional(s) about dengue before travelling.
References
  1. Yang X, et al. J Travel Med. 2021;28(8):taab146
  2. Gwee, X.W.S., Chua, P.E.Y. & Pang, J. Global dengue importation: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 21, 1078 (2021)
  3. Gossner CM et al. Dengue virus infections among European travellers, 2015 to 2019. Euro Surveill. 2022;27(2):2001937.
  4. WHO. Dengue and severe dengue factsheets. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue Last accessed: October 2023.
  5. NHS. Conditions. Dengue. January 2023. Retrieved January 2023
  6. Rivera A, et al. Travel-Associated and Locally Acquired Dengue Cases - United States, 2010-2017. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69(6):149–154.
  7. Bao-Linh Tran, Estimating the threshold effects of climate on dengue, a case study of Taiwan, Int J Environ Res Public Health, February 2020. Retrieved January 2023
  8. Dengue (dengue fever). HSE. Ie. Available from: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/dengue-fever/. Last accessed: October 2023.
  9. Lowe R, et al. Combined effects of hydrometeorological hazards and urbanisation on dengue risk in Brazil: a spatiotemporal modelling study, Lancet Planet Health 2021;5:e209-19
  10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Avoid Dengue by Preventing Mosquito Bites. Retrieved January 2023

C-ANPROM/GB/DENV/0175 | Date of preparation: October 2023