Locally-acquired dengue fever cases have risen to 66 for the year, with roughly three-quarters of them in New Taipei (Sanxia, Luzhou, Tucheng, Banqiao, Zhonghe, Shulin and Linkou), while the remainder are from Taoyuan. And in Singapore, mosquito populations measured through traps placed in residential areas have stayed high since late August while weekly cases exceeded those for the same period in the past four years. The YTD total of dengue cases has now passed 32,000 and 45 clusters are currently characterised as high-risk (10 or more cases). Read more
Advice for travellers
Avoid mosquito bites to protect against dengue fever. To avoid biting insects, apply repellent containing an active ingredient, such as DEET, Picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus (PMD) to all exposed skin when outdoors. Dengue is spread by two types of aedes mosquitoes. Both breed close to dwellings, are found in shady areas and bite mainly during the daylight hours, making them difficult to avoid outdoors. Travellers should also cover up with long-sleeved tops, long pants, and shoes and socks when mosquitoes are most active.
Before you travel, call Travelvax Australia’s telephone advisory service on 1300 360 164 (toll-free from landlines) for country-specific advice and information. You can also make an appointment at your nearest Travelvax clinic to obtain vaccinations, medication to prevent or treat illness, and accessories for your journey.