Dengue on the rise: What every traveller needs to know before heading to Asia
By Sarah Falson Question: Mosquito-borne illness is on the rise. What's the best way to avoid it?
With Australia's warm weather and outdoor lifestyle, we are used to the odd mosquito bite, but when we go overseas, bites could be more serious. Subscribe now for unlimited access.
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Mosquito bites are one of the fastest-growing threats to global travellers. Dengue fever is on the rise across south-east Asia and around the world, transmitted to people by mosquitoes infected with dengue virus. The virus and the types of mosquitoes that spread it are found in tropical and sub-tropical countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, Philippines and Vietnam.
Here's what you need to know before you pack the bug spray.
According to NSW Health, travellers should take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. If contracted, dengue can involve severe flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain, as well as fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, and sometimes a faint red rash. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) says people with dengue are often asymptomatic. There is also no specific treatment and people with dengue are often given pain medication, WHO says.
According to WHO, dengue is the most widespread and rapidly increasing vector-borne disease in the world. From 2015 to 2019, south-east Asia cases increased by 46 per cent. So far this year there have been 41,582 cases in the region, 4258 severe cases and 64 deaths.
Travellers can bring dengue home - without knowing it
Western Sydney University senior lecturer in microbiology, Dr Thomas Jeffries, says travellers can also bring dengue back with them. "They can't spread it like you spread the flu or COVID by coughing or breath. But they can have it in their bloodstream and get bitten by a mosquito [who then bites other people and spreads it]," Jeffries says.
How to protect yourself from bites
The Smartraveller website says travellers should take precautions, including wearing insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE), sleeping under a portable mosquito net and spraying your clothes and mosquito nets with insecticide containing permethrin.
Be extra cautious during early mornings and late afternoons when mosquitoes are most active, and avoid areas near stagnant water, Smartraveller says. It also recommends wearing loose, light-coloured clothing and closed shoes, and keeping doors and windows closed if they don't have insect screens.
Climate change is fuelling the mosquito surge
Monash University of Malaysia associate professor in molecular virology, Vinod Balasubramaniam, said there is a direct correlation between the rise of dengue and climate change.
"Because of the elevated temperatures, we are getting increased humidity. We have altered rainfall patterns. Recently, we have [had] heavier rains, but irregular monsoons. Now this enhances mosquito breeding," Balasubramaniam said from Malaysia.
Vitamin B and garlic won't help - but this might
Monash University World Mosquito Program senior director of field entomology, Greg Devine, says there is "not much evidence" to support some old wives' tales about who gets bitten.
"There's really nothing to suggest that taking vitamin B supplements or rubbing yourself in papaya leaves or having a particular blood type, eating lots of garlic - unfortunately, there is no easy solution to making yourself less attractive [to mosquitoes]," Devine says.
But they do like "sweaty people", and unfortunately for the beer drinkers, this can make us more sweaty, Devine says.
He also says pregnant women and children who "tend to run a little bit hotter than everybody else" can be quite attractive to mosquitoes.
Use repellent with DEET, picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus.
Sleep under a mosquito net and wear light, loose clothing.
Avoid areas near stagnant water.
Be cautious at dawn and dusk.
Don't count on garlic or vitamin B - they don't work.
Words by Sarah Falson Sarah is ACM's travel producer. She believes regional travel is just as fun (if not better) than staying in the big cities and loves any travel experience to do with nature, animals and food!.My all-time favourite destination is ... Cornwall. From the giant seagulls to the blustery beaches, Cornish pasties and fishing villages, it stirs something romantic and seafaring in me. Next on my bucket list is … Mongolia. I want to go somewhere really unique that feels totally foreign and challenges my way of life.
My top travel tip is … Don't plan too much. Walk the streets and let it happen. And make sure you check out what's within a few blocks of your hotel - sometimes the best local food is found that way.
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