Seven Illawarra residents have been struck down by dengue fever while holidaying overseas this year, prompting advice from the public health unit.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District acting public health director Glendon Lee said the figures were consistent with previous years, but were a timely reminder to be travel safe.
“In 2017 there were 15 dengue notifications in the ISLHD. When laboratories confirm dengue fever, they notify their local public health unit who follow up each case to determine where the person acquired the infection,” he said.
“This information is important to assist identifying if transmission is occurring in areas considered to be low-risk and to prevent transmission.”
Mr Lee said no cases of dengue fever had been transmitted by mosquitoes in NSW for decades. The 313 dengue cases notified across the state in 2017 represented a 34 per cent decrease in notifications compared to 2016.
“Dengue is an exotic viral infection spread by the bite of certain types of mosquito in tropical parts of the world,” he said.
“The disease, also called ‘break-bone’ fever affects infants, children and adults alike and can rarely be fatal.
“Patients with dengue fever usually begin to develop flu-like symptoms between three and 14 days after being bitten by an infectious mosquito.”
Symptoms include sudden fever, chills, severe headache with pain behind the eyes, swollen glands, muscle and joint pain and extreme fatigue. There may also be abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
A faint red rash sometimes develops on the upper body around the third day.
“The best way to prevent dengue fever – and other similar infections like Zika and Chikungunya – is to avoid mosquito bites,” Mr Lee said.
“You can help avoid mosquito bites by wearing appropriate clothing to minimise the amount of exposed skin and use a mosquito repellent on any skin that is exposed.”
Travellers are most at risk in tropical countries throughout Asia, the Pacific, parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and countries in Central and South America.
In 2017, India was the most common source country for dengue infection in NSW, followed by Indonesia.
Mosquitoes that can transmit dengue are also found in some coastal regions of Far North Queensland and the Torres Strait.
