🦠 Global Health Alerts For Travelers: Chikungunya And Dengue Fever Notices 🌍
- Virtual Wellness Voyage
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 9
As travelers, staying informed about global health risks is essential. Outbreaks of mosquito-borne diseases like Chikungunya and Dengue Fever can impact your health while you’re abroad and after your return home. Below, we break down two recent health alerts — Chikungunya in China and Dengue Fever outbreaks in several countries — and what you need to know to protect yourself.
1. Chikungunya Outbreak in Guangdong Province, China 🌞
Category: Mosquito-Borne Diseases
What’s happening?The Chikungunya virus has been reported in Guangdong Province, China, particularly in Foshan City. This has led to a Level 2: Practice Enhanced Precautions advisory. Chikungunya is primarily spread by mosquitoes and can cause fever, joint pain, and a rash. Though it is usually not life-threatening, the symptoms can be debilitating, especially for older adults and those with underlying health conditions.
How to protect yourself:
Mosquito protection is the best prevention. Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing, and stay in places with air conditioning or screened windows to avoid mosquito bites.
Pregnant travelers should avoid visiting areas with active chikungunya outbreaks, as the virus can be transmitted to newborns, leading to serious health risks.
Vaccination for chikungunya is available in Canada. To read more about the vaccination option for chikungunya see our blog post below:
Symptoms to watch for:
If you develop fever, joint pain, rash, or flu-like symptoms during or after travel, seek medical care immediately.
2. Global Dengue Fever Outbreaks 🦟
Category: Mosquito-Borne Diseases
What’s happening? Dengue fever is a year-round risk in many tropical and subtropical regions, with outbreaks typically occurring every 2–5 years. Recently, there has been a rise in Dengue cases in several countries, including Bangladesh, Colombia, Ecuador, Philippines, and more. The CDC has noted a higher-than-expected number of cases among travelers returning from these regions.
How to protect yourself:
Mosquito protection is critical when traveling to high-risk areas. Make sure to use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and stay in air-conditioned rooms or places with screened windows to minimize exposure to mosquitoes.
Avoid peak mosquito activity, typically early morning and late afternoon, and stay in areas with good mosquito control practices.
Countries with heightened Dengue risk include:
Bangladesh
Cook Islands
Colombia
Ecuador
Fiji
Guatemala
Panama
Philippines
Samoa
And more…
If you’re traveling to these regions, it’s especially important to take preventive measures.
Symptoms to watch for:Dengue fever symptoms include fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, rash, and nausea. If you develop these symptoms after travel, seek medical care immediately.
What to Do Before You Travel
Before embarking on your journey, take the time to consult with one of our pre-travel health experts to ensure you're fully prepared. Whether it’s for Chikungunya, or other travel-related health concerns, our Virtual Pre-Travel Clinic can provide personalized, expert advice tailored to your destination and health needs. To read more about our travel health consult click the link below:
To book an appointment, see the following link:
Our team will work with you to ensure that you have all the information and medications needed to stay healthy and safe, no matter where your travels take you.
About Us:
At Virtual Wellness Voyage, we offer virtual pre-travel medicine consultations to travellers across Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador. Our team of travel health professionals provides expert advice on vaccinations, preventive medications, and health precautions for international travelers. With our easy-to-use online platform, we bring the expertise to your home — wherever you are.
If you like what you've read click the following links to read about more pre-travel preventative medications:
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