References
Dengue risk for international travellers from the UK
Abstract
Dengue is a viral infection that spreads to humans from the bite of an infected mosquito. It is found in tropical and sub-tropical countries worldwide; affected regions include the Caribbean, South and Central America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific Islands. Outbreaks are increasingly being reported outside tropical areas, including in Europe. Health professionals involved in the provision of the dengue vaccine in the UK must make sure they are familiar with the appropriate Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation guidance regarding prescribing the UK licensed dengue vaccine. They should follow current UK Health Security Agency dengue vaccine recommendations for UK travellers as part of their risk assessment.
Dengue (sometimes known as break-bone fever) is a viral infection that spreads from day-biting mosquitoes to humans. It is more common in tropical and sub-tropical countries, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas (World Health Organization (WHO), 2024).
Dengue is endemic in more than 100 countries worldwide, including in Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, south-east Asia and the Western Pacific region. Sporadic cases are also occurring in some European countries. The number of dengue cases worldwide has markedly increased in the past few decades, with large outbreaks reported globally.
Most dengue cases are mild or asymptomatic, but severe, life-threatening disease can occur (UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), 2024a). Dengue fever is not a risk in the UK, although imported cases in returning travellers are reported annually (UKHSA, 2024b). There is no risk of dengue spreading in the UK from an imported case, as the mosquito species that can carry and spread dengue are not present in the UK (UKHSA, 2024a).
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