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Travel to India hikes dengue, chikungunya cases in UK

Last Updated 04 May 2018, 01:42 IST

According to new HPA figures, cases of dengue fever, a mosquito-borne infection, has more than doubled in UK travellers from 166 reported cases in 2009 to 406 in 2010.
It said that "dengue fever does not occur in the UK" and the highest proportion of cases were associated with travel to India - 84 cases (21 per cent) and Thailand - 61 cases (15 per cent).

The increase in dengue reports is coupled with a 34 per cent rise in the number of reported cases of chikungunya, another mosquito borne infection, which rose from 59 cases in 2009 to 79 in 2010, it said.

Nearly 50 per cent of these cases were associated with travel to India.
"Both diseases are endemic in Asia and Africa and dengue is also common in many other parts of the world including South America, Central America and the Caribbean and the Western Pacific", the HPA said.

Dr Jane Jones, head of the HPA's travel and migrant health section, said: "These figures demonstrate that the importance of taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites extends to protecting against other infections, not just malaria.

Unlike for malaria where drugs can be taken to prevent infection, there is no such option available to prevent either dengue or chikungunya.

She added: "The mosquitoes that spread dengue and chikungunya bite in the day, compared with those that spread malaria which are mainly active from dusk to dawn.
To minimise the risk of being bitten it is advisable to wear appropriate clothing to cover up - such as long sleeve tops and trousers - and use insect repellents.

In areas where both malaria and these other mosquito borne illnesses co-exist, protection against mosquito bites should be used around the clock, including the use of mosquito nets at night".

Jones advised anyone travelling to a tropical destination should take appropriate advice from a health professional or a travel health clinic at least 6-8 weeks before they travel to ensure they are aware of the risks and how they can best protect themselves from illness.

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(Published 11 May 2011, 12:44 IST)

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