Remember ABOut Dengue

 
Measles cases are rising alarmingly in many areas but I wrote about that last July. I am thus going to discuss the increased risk of dengue in many popular tourist destinations. Dengue comes in waves every few years. Cases are currently increased in Vietnam and Singapore is having an outbreak. Dar es Salaam in Tanzania is as well. Closer to home Timor Leste, Palau, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Tuvalu, French Polynesia and Cook Islands have increased numbers of cases. Fiji may too as travellers have been diagnosed after trips there recently.
Mosquito bite avoidance is the only protection against dengue. It is day biting ones that are responsible and they may be in urban areas as the out break in Singapore illustrates. The first dengue vaccine in use has now been approved in America for people with a documented prior dengue illness who live in dengue areas. There are more dengue vaccines in the pipeline so in the future vaccination may become a strategy for travellers. Until then use your repellent.
​