Holidaygoers heading to several different countries this summer are being warned about the dangers posed by a potentially deadly disease.
Dengue fever, also known as 'break-bone fever' was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2019 as one of the top 10 threats to global health.
It is spread by Asian tiger mosquitoes and can lead to sickness, muscle and joint pain, as well as causing severe headaches.
A recent outbreak in Peru has already left over 146,000 people infected and at least 248 dead.
Epidemic & pandemic preparedness is key to keeping the world safe.@WHO Technical Advisory Group on Arboviruses are meeting in Ghana to share ideas on shaping global efforts to prepare & respond to outbreaks of arboviruses such as yellow fever, dengue fever, zika virus & others. pic.twitter.com/dZClNAIdjl
— WHO Ghana (@WHOGhana) June 20, 2023
Research has shown that in the last decade, almost half of UK-based travellers have visited at least one hotspot for dengue fever.
Originally, these places include the likes of the Caribbean, Singapore, Thailand and the Pacific Islands, which 46% of Brit travellers have visited during the last 10 years, according to the Takeda UK research.
However, in more recent times the bug has also cropped up in holiday favourites like Ibiza in Spain and Nice in the south of France.
President of the British Global and Travel Health Association, Dr. George Kassianos, has urged UK and Irish holidaymakers to seek travel health advice as soon as their holiday is booked.
⚠️ BREAKING:
— Infectious Disease Tracker (@HmpxvT) June 16, 2023
Peru's 🇵🇪 health minister resigns as dengue fever case count surpasses 146,000 with 248 deaths in the country's largest dengue outbreak ever. pic.twitter.com/xI0iMdzroO
Dr. Kassianos told a national newspaper: “Although the UK and Ireland are not endemic countries, more than 800 UK holidaymakers had their trips disrupted by dengue in 2019, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, with all reported cases imported from popular holiday destinations.
“One of the greatest drivers of the disease is climate change and particularly global warming," he went on to explain.
"The rise in temperatures is making it possible for mosquitoes to live and breed in wider territories – including areas within southern Europe, exposing travellers from the UK and Ireland to dengue in popular holiday destinations."
Dengue fever symptoms to look out for:
- a high temperature
- a severe headache
- pain behind your eyes
- muscle and joint pain
- feeling or being sick
- swollen glands
- a blotchy rash made up of flat or slightly raised spots – this can affect large areas of your body
Some people get a more severe type of dengue a few days after they first started feeling ill, but this is rare, according to the NHS.
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