As reported by Detiktravel.com, Australian media, including News.co.au, is warning Indonesian and Bali-bound tourists to be on alert against the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever threat.
Spread through the bite of the Aedes Aegypt Mosquito, a doctor from the Tropical Public Health Service located in Cairns, Queensland, has confirmed five cases of dengue fever over the first few weeks of December 2024 – all traced to people who have recently visited Bali.
A spokesperson for Queensland Health told the media that dengue fever in Indonesia, where the disease is called “deman berdarah,” is found in most regions of Indonesia and is prevalent during the rainy season, which typically occurs annually from November until March.
In November, Northern Queensland recorded 29 cases of dengue fever.
Most areas of Australia do not have populations of Aedes Aegypt Mosquitos that spread dengue fever, with cases of the disease found across Australia among people infected during foreign travel.
Meanwhile, South Australian Health told news.com.au that an increase in dengue fever is being seen among people returning from visits to Indonesia. In South Australia, nine cases of dengue fever were recorded during the first two weeks of November, and three more cases through the end of that month.
In Victoria, Australia, 12 cases of dengue fever were recorded in the last half of November from people infected during foreign travel, mainly in India.
In November, New South Wales saw 36 cases of the disease, 30 linked to Indonesian travel, primarily to Bali.
Northern Territory Health has received three confirmations of dengue fever during the last two weeks of November, which is linked to travel to Cambodia and Bali.
“Travellers should protect themselves from mosquitoes when overseas in countries where dengue is present, as many of our neighboring countries are currently experiencing high levels of dengue,” said an NT Health spokesperson.
Data from Australia’s National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System shows there have been 2,153 dengue cases in Australia in 2024, compared with 1,119 cases the previous year (2023) and 1,505 in 2019, before the pandemic called a halt to overseas travel.
Western Australia Health recorded more than 500 cases in 2024, all acquired while traveling overseas. More than 85 percent of the 500 cases were acquired in South or Southeast Asia, with the majority from Indonesia.
Related Links
Wikipedia Link on Dengue Fever
Dengue Fever Rates at Record Highs
Bali’s Bio-tech War Against Dengue On Hold
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