Dengue Fever Warning

Dengue Fever Warning

Anyone travelling to the Pacific, particularly the Cook Islands, should take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, as there has been a significant increase in the number of reported cases of Dengue fever in travellers since the beginning of the year.
The Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS) has had 29 notifications this year with 19 of these having travelled from the Cook Islands and a small number from other Pacific Islands.

Dr Sheryl Jury, Public Health Medicine Specialist, ARPHS, says the outbreak in the Cook Islands was first noticed in mid 2006 and has mostly affected the main island of Rarotonga.
"Local authorities in the affected countries undertake control programmes to limit the spread of disease but there are also steps that visitors and tourists can take," she says.

Dengue fever is spread by daytime feeding mosquitoes and there is currently no vaccine available. The risk of acquiring Dengue can be reduced by staying, when possible, in accommodation that has screens on doors and windows or is air-conditioned, wearing clothing that adequately covers the arms and legs, and applying insect repellent to both skin and clothing. The most effective repellents are those containing diethyl toluamide (DEET).
Dengue fever is a serious viral disease spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It is found in tropical regions worldwide and regular outbreaks occur in various parts of the Pacific.

Mosquitoes in New Zealand do not carry the Dengue virus and as the disease is not transmitted from person to person, travellers are only at risk when they go to countries where Dengue is a problem.

Dengue fever is characterised by the sudden onset of a high fever and an intense headache. Symptoms may also include a skin rash and muscle and joint pain. After being bitten by an infected mosquito, symptoms usually occur from four to six days later but can take anywhere from three to 14 days to appear. The severity of symptoms varies between individuals and the type of symptoms experienced will often depend on the age of the infected person.
The illness is usually of short duration but recovery may be prolonged. A repeated infection with a dengue virus of a different type may cause a severe illness with bleeding requiring hospitalisation.

Dr Jury said anyone returning from overseas should seek medical advice if they have symptoms of Dengue fever or if unwell.

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