Travel & Dengue Outbreaks

How to reduce your risk
while visiting areas with dengue

International travelers’ risk of dengue infection can vary dependant on transmission in the area as well as exposure to mosquitoes. You are at greater risk when an outbreak or epidemic is occurring. If your hotel or resort does not have air conditioning or windows and doors with secure, intact screens you may be at higher risk. You should take precautions like using repellent and killing any visible mosquitoes. CDC recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or IR3535 as the active ingredient. Repellent can be applied to exposed skin and/or clothing. Clothing impregnated with permethrin is another option (pre-treated or you can treat yourself). Some spatial repellent/insecticide products (mosquito coils, plug-in or butane powered devices), may assist in reducing the risk of mosquito around you.

Current information on official travel notices and outbreaks:
Updates from CDC’s Traveler’s Health website

CDC Traveler's Health homepage:
General information for before and during your travels

You can reduce your risk of dengue infection while traveling:
Learn how to keep yourself safe while traveling in areas where dengue transmission occurs

Resources from CDC Health Information for International Travelers 2012 ("Yellow Book"):

• Protection Against Mosquitoes, Ticks, and Other Insects and Arthropods: Details on products and practices to reduce your exposure to mosquitoes and other dangerous vectors
• Dengue Fever (DF) and Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF):
  Background on dengue for travelers and travel medicine practitioners