Travellers warned as dengue fever outbreak grips popular holiday spot
Travelers to Samoa and other Pacific islands are being warned of a significant dengue fever outbreak. Health authorities advise using insect repellent and taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
Why it matters
Dengue fever is a serious tropical illness that can lead to hospitalization or death, impacting international travel safety.
shares Share article Tourists heading to Samoa are being told to protect themselves after a dengue fever outbreak has gripped the nation.
Smartraveller has urged people heading to the Polynesian island to follow standard safety precautions and use insect repellent.
The tropics-associated illness is carried by certain species of mosquito. iStock
Safe Travel New Zealand found that from January 1 to June 11, the nation had more than 3500 confirmed Dengue cases with more than 150 hospitalisations and three deaths.
The tropics-associated illness is carried by certain species of mosquito.
Dengue fever is mostly imported into Australia by travellers – if a mosquito bites an infected person, that mosquito can become a carrier.
Outbreaks in Australia are largely confined to North Queensland .
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