11 January 2012
The NT Centre for Disease Control (CDC) is urging travellers to make every effort to protect themselves against disease carrying mosquitoes when holidaying in South East Asia.
"Dozens of holiday makers return to the NT with dengue fever each year, the majority of cases acquired in neighbouring Indonesia or East Timor," CDC Director, Dr Vicki Krause said.
"During the current holiday season there have already been 7 cases reported, mostly in people returning from Bali. Some cases have been contracted during stays of as few as 3 days," Dr Krause said.
"Fortunately there has been no transmission of dengue fever in the NT since the 1950s but this debilitating disease can still be contracted in popular South East Asian holiday spots. As many as 64 cases have been reported to the CDC in a year, with 27 cases in 2011."
The CDC routinely investigates all people diagnosed with dengue fever to determine the place of infection.
Dr Krause explained that dengue has not been transmitted in the NT for many years as the Aedes aegypti vector mosquito is not usually found here.
"With the recent incursion of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes into Tennant Creek it is especially important that we maintain this surveillance and our work to protect our dengue-free status," she said.
The Department of Health is currently conducting an intensive surveillance and control program to eliminate the dengue mosquito from Tennant Creek and return the NT to being dengue mosquito free.
"This is a reminder to travellers that avoiding mosquito bites is the only prevention from dengue fever. Dengue mosquitoes are daytime biters, often lurking in places such as under tables where people sit, so protection is required all day," Dr Krause said.
Travellers can avoid being bitten by mosquitoes carrying dengue or other diseases, by:
- avoiding areas of likely mosquito activity, including areas of dense vegetation or where there is pooled water
- 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
· ensuring flyscreens in accommodation are in good repair
· using clothing that has been impregnated with insecticide during manufacture (available at a number of camping and work clothing stores).
- using mosquito coils or mosquito lanterns/gas operated insecticide vapour devices in outdoor sheltered areas, and electric insecticide vapour mats in enclosed areas.
Dengue fever is more commonly seen in older children and adults. It is characterised by abrupt onset of high fever lasting 3-7 days, severe frontal headache, pain behind the eyes and muscle and joint pains.
Other symptoms may include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, a rash and/or minor bleeding (eg from nose and gums).
"The acute symptoms of dengue fever last up to 10 days but some people may experience repeated episodes of fever," Dr Krause said.
"Full recovery may be slow and associated with weakness and depression. It is rarely fatal but repeated episodes of dengue fever carry with it the increased possibility of dengue hemorrhagic fever which is a severe disease and has a higher fatality rate."
More information can be found at:
Media Contact: Bridget Wild - 89 992 818 or 0401 116 203
