CDC issues travel alert for dengue fever: See where it's spreading
FILE - Dengue fever cases are on the rise in 16 countries, according to the CDC (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a Level 1 travel alert for 16 countries reporting an uptick in cases of the mosquito-borne dengue virus.
A Level 1 out of 4 alert urges travelers to "practice usual precautions" but be aware of the rise in cases if they travel to any of the following countries:
Dengue fever travel advisory
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Cook Islands
- Cuba
- Guyana
- Maldives
- Mali
- Mauritania
- New Caledonia
- Pakistan
- Samoa
- Sudan
- Timor-Leste
- Vietnam
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What is dengue fever?
Dengue virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. There are four types of dengue virus, simply known as 1, 2, 3 and 4. Having one type of virus doesn’t provide immunity from others.
The CDC says dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years.
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Dengue symptoms
About one in four people who are infected with dengue will get sick, according to the CDC. Mild symptoms can include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and aches and pains and typically last anywhere from two to seven days.
Most people will recover after about a week, the CDC says.
Is dengue fever fatal?
For about one in 20 people who get sick with dengue, it can develop into a severe case, according to the agency – including shock, internal bleeding, and even death.
Infants and pregnant women are at higher risk of developing severe dengue.
Dengue prevention
What you can do:
The CDC says the best way to prevent dengue is by avoiding mosquito bites. Travelers can do that by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room or room with window screens.
A vaccine is approved for use in some children who live in areas where dengue occurs frequently, but it’s not approved for U.S. travelers who are visiting but not living in an area where dengue is common.
The Source: This article includes information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and previous FOX Local reporting.