Frequent dengue fever outbreaks in Southeast Asia—travelers should take mosquito prevention measures seriously

▲ Dengue fever outbreaks are frequent in places like Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand—travelers must take mosquito precautions seriously. (Photo provided by Tourism Malaysia)

Travel Center / Comprehensive Report

According to epidemic monitoring data from the Centers for Disease Control, several countries in Southeast Asia such asSingapore, Malaysia, and Thailandare experiencing frequent dengue fever outbreaks. In Singapore, as of week 6, a total of 2,162 dengue cases have been reported; in Malaysia, dengue cases continue to rise at a rate of approximately 2,000 new cases per week, with a cumulative total of 11,870 cases reported as of early February this year. As of February 18 this year, Taiwan has recorded a total of 21 imported dengue fever cases, with infection sources including 9 from Indonesia, 6 from Malaysia, 3 from the Philippines, 2 from Singapore, and 1 from Cambodia.

The symptoms of dengue fever vary depending on an individual’s constitution. Some may experience only mild symptoms or even be asymptomatic. Typical dengue fever symptoms include sudden high fever (“g38°C”), headache, retro-orbital pain, muscle pain, joint pain, and rash. However, if someone is infected with different serotypes of the dengue virus sequentially, they have a higher chance of developing “dengue hemorrhagic fever.” In addition to the typical dengue symptoms, dengue hemorrhagic fever also presents with obvious bleeding tendencies. Without timely medical attention or treatment, the mortality rate can be as high as 50%.

Travelers planning to visit Southeast Asia are advised to take note of the following precautions:
1. When traveling, visiting family, or conducting business in high-risk dengue fever areas, it is essential to take proper personal mosquito prevention measures. Use mosquito repellents approved by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on exposed skin and wear light-colored, long-sleeved clothing and pants to avoid being bitten by disease-carrying mosquitoes.
2. If you develop symptoms such as fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, rash, or joint pain during your trip or after returning home, seek medical attention promptly and inform your doctor of your travel history to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Other informationPlease refer to the CDC official website, or call the public epidemic reporting and consultation hotline 1922. If your phone cannot dial short-code numbers, please call the epidemic prevention hotline 0800-001922 instead.