Western Australians travelling to Bali over the coming school holidays have been warned to remain alert following a surge in dengue fever cases in the region.
WA Health warns the number of dengue fever have tripled compared to the same time last year, up from 107 to 322 cases.
About 82 per cent of the cases recorded reported recent travel to Indonesia.
Indonesia has reported more than 90,000 cases of dengue fever, with over 9.5 million cases reported worldwide since the start of the year.
WA Health Communicable Disease Control Acting Director Professor Paul Effler said dengue fever could cause severe illness.
“While most people will experience mild flu-like symptoms, the disease may be fatal, especially for those who become infected with dengue fever a second time,” Effler said.
“The best defence against dengue fever is to protect yourself from mosquito bites when visiting Bali or other high-risk areas.”
The dengue virus is spread through mosquitoes which tend to bite during the day and are usually found around buildings in urban or semi-urban areas.
Symptoms of dengue fever may include fever, rash, headache, fatigue, and joint and muscle pain, with more severe disease presenting with abdominal pain, vomiting, and bleeding from the gums or nose.
Health authorities warn there is no specific treatment for this illness, however the risk of contracting dengue fever can be significantly reduced by protecting against mosquitoes when travelling overseas.
