Are you travelling to Laos? Be aware of the Dengue Fever outbreak

RPS Partnership can report that health officials in Laos have confirmed that the total number of cases of dengue fever in the city-state has risen to more than 6,000 since the latest outbreak was first reported in January 2013.

There have been at least 26 confirmed deaths as a result with the majority of cases being reported in the capital, Vientiane, and in the provinces of Champassak and Saravan.  However, there have been no confirmed cases in the northern provinces of Phongsaly, Houaphanh, Luang Namtha and Xing Khouang thus far.

RPS Partnership advises that Laos is prone to seasonal outbreaks of dengue fever, usually between April and October. However, this recent outbreak began in January and has had an unusually high infection rate.
Dengue fever occurs during periods of sustained rainfall.

Symptoms of the disease usually occur within 3 to 14 days of being bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito. Symptoms can include a high fever, severe headaches, backache, joint pain, nausea, vomiting, eye pain and rashes.

RPS Partnership advises all travelers to Laos to take precautions against being bitten by mosquitoes, including using insect repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants and sleeping under mosquito nets. Anyone suffering from any of the symptoms above should contact a doctor immediately.

Contact [email protected] for any travel advice to this region.

Source: Red24

Photos: travelfish.org