3 days ago
Life-threatening disease erupts on Australia's doorstep as urgent travel warning is issued
Deadly dengue fever outbreaks have been rising amongst Australia's Pacific neighbours, prompting a travel warning for holidaymakers.
The Cook Islands declared the most recent outbreak of the disease after 19 cases of the disease, including two active cases, were recorded as of June 6.
Case counts have also been increasing in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji and Kiribati.
Some of the affected nations have several recorded deaths from the disease.
Fiji has recorded four deaths from just under 8,000 cases; Tonga recorded three from more than 790 cases; and Samoa recorded one from 110 cases.
The director of the Public Health Division at the Pacific Community (SPC) said climate change expanding mosquito habitats and increased regional and international travel were increasing the risk of virus transmission.
'There is a growing incidence of severe dengue amongst children and youth with no prior dengue exposure,' Dr Berlin Kafoa said.
'There are older adults coming from areas historically free of dengue. This suggests immunity gaps.
'Severe cases and fatalities are being reported, especially among youth.'
Immunisation Advisory Centre medical advisor Dr Joan Ingram warned the spread of the disease could put travellers at risk.
'Estimates are that around six in 1000 travellers spending a month in a risk area become unwell with dengue, with up to 20 per cent of them being hospitalised,' she said.
'Globally, dengue cases were at a very high level in 2024, particularly in South America. Cases increased almost 30-fold there between 2000 and 2024.
'Urbanisation, globalisation and climate change have contributed to this increase.'
Dengue fever is spread by various biting species of 'Aedes' mosquitos which thrive in the same areas as humans.
It can develop into severe dengue which is a medical emergency which requires hospital treatment and can cause deaths.
Experts recommend those in areas of dengue fever outbreaks take precautions to avoid the mosquitos.
'Aedes mosquitoes are daytime feeders, with two peak times of biting activity two to three hours after dawn, and mid-to-late afternoon,' Dr Ingram said.
'However, they may feed all day indoors or on overcast days.'
'People should regularly apply effective repellent as well as using light-coloured clothing to cover up. In addition, they should take steps to reduce mosquitoes indoors – such as screens on windows and doors – and in the environment by emptying any water-holding containers.'
The World Mosquito Program senior director of field entomology, Dr Gregor Devine, said current mosquito control methods were only having a 'limited impact'.
Impacted nations have resorted to enacting clean-up campaigns to try control the outbreaks and using insecticides, though 'resistance to insecticides is increasingly documented in the Pacific'.
He warned effective vaccines were 'years away' from being universally available and affordable.
However, Dr Devine said 'a safe, effective and sustainable solution exists'.
'The Wolbachia method, developed by the non-profit World Mosquito Program, involves releasing mosquitoes infected with a bacteria that reduces their ability to transmit dengue,' he said.
'Following six years of Wolbachia mosquito releases in New Caledonia, the project has been hailed a monumental success, and the French territory hasn't had a dengue epidemic since 2019.'
The government's Smartraveller website warned a higher-than-usual number of cases of Dengue fever have been reported around the world, particularly in developing nations.
Outbreaks have been recorded in Africa, Asia, Central and South America and the Pacific.
'This includes places popular with Australians, such as: Indonesia, including Bali; Malaysia; Singapore; and Peru,' the website read.
