The Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is urging travellers to protect themselves against disease carrying mosquitoes when holidaying in South East Asia, following an increase number of returned travellers being diagnosed with dengue fever.

“Already this year 19 cases of dengue fever have been reported in the Northern Territory in travellers returning from South East Asia, with the majority of infected travellers returning from Bali,” said Dr Vicki Krause, Director of CDC.

“Fortunately, the mosquito that transmits the virus (Aedes aegypti) is not found in the Northern Territory, but it is commonly found in many popular South East Asian countries, as well as parts of northern Queensland.”

“As the Northern Territory does not have this mosquito, dengue cannot be transmitted between people in the Northern Territory. CDC however does routinely investigate all people diagnosed with dengue fever to determine the place of infection.”

The only prevention against dengue fever is avoiding mosquito bites, the mosquitoes which carry the dengue virus bite throughout the day and enter houses. Simple steps to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes that may carry dengue or other diseases include:

• wearing loose light-coloured clothing with long sleeves, trousers and socks.
• using repellents containing di-ethyl-toluamide (DEET) or picaridin on exposed skin as supplements to protective clothing. Creams usually provide better protection.
• ensuring flyscreens in accommodation are in good repair.
• avoiding areas of likely mosquito activity, including areas of dense vegetation or where there is pooled water.
• using mosquito coils or mosquito lanterns/gas operated insecticide vapour devices in outdoor sheltered areas, and electric insecticide vapour mats in enclosed areas.
• using clothing that has been impregnated with insecticide during manufacture, available at a number of camping and work clothing stores.

Signs and symptoms of dengue fever are rapid-onset fever lasting three to seven days, severe frontal headache, pain behind the eyes and muscle and joint pains. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and/or minor bleeding e.g. from nose and gums.

Dengue fever is rarely fatal, however repeated infections increase the chance of developing dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is a severe disease and has a higher fatality rate.

More information can be found at Centre of Disease Control

Media Contact: Lorraine Hook 0427 596 954