Dengue fever Q&As
Published by Bupa's health information team, March 2009.
Answers to questions about dengue fever
This section contains answers to common questions about this topic. Questions have been suggested by health professionals, website feedback and requests via email.
- Can I catch dengue fever from another person?
- What are my chances of getting dengue if I travel to an affected country?
- What concentration of DEET should I use?
Can I catch dengue fever from another person?
No, dengue can't be transmitted from one person to another.
Explanation
While dengue fever cannot be transmitted from person to person, it can be transmitted indirectly between people living in close proximity, via mosquito bites. If you have dengue fever, you should therefore take extra care to protect yourself from mosquito bites, in order to prevent mosquitoes becoming infectious after biting you and passing on the virus to others.
The following measures can be taken to prevent getting bitten while infected:
- rest in a screened room or under a mosquito net
- use insect repellents - those containing DEET (N, N-diethylmetatoluamide) are thought to be most effective
- use insecticides if there are mosquitoes indoors
Sources
- Eddleston M, Davidson R, Wilkinson R, et al., Oxford handbook of tropical medicine. 2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005
- Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever: information for health care practitioners. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.cdc.gov, accessed 3 March 2008
- Insect bite avoidance. National travel health network and centre. www.nathnac.org, accessed 3 March 2008
What are my chances of getting dengue if I travel to an affected country?
There are several different factors that can affect your chance of getting dengue. These include where you are travelling to and the intensity of dengue transmission there, how long you are staying and what time of year you are travelling.
Explanation
The number of UK travellers who get dengue has increased over the past few years, and this is partly due to the disease becoming more common worldwide.
It is difficult to determine your individual risk of catching dengue - everyone who travels to an area where the virus is present is at some level of risk. It has been shown that travellers who spend a long time in areas where dengue is common (such as expatriates or aid workers) have a greater risk. However, even short-term visitors may be exposed to dengue.
The best advice is to protect yourself from getting mosquito bites if you are travelling to an affected area.
Sources
- Dengue fever information sheet. National travel health network and centre. www.nathnac.org, accessed 3 March 2008
- Foreign travel associated illness, England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2007 report. Health Protection Agency, August 2007
What concentration of DEET should I use?
This depends on your individual requirements, including the amount of exposure to dengue you are likely to have and the duration of protection from mosquito bites you prefer.
Explanation
Products containing DEET (N, N-diethylmetatoluamide) are available in several different concentrations - the higher the concentration, the longer the duration of protection. Concentrations of 20% DEET have been shown to provide about one to three hours of protection, while concentrations of 30% can provide up to six hours of protection. However, the length of action appears to plateau at a concentration of about 50%. This means that concentrations above 50% don't give you any significant added benefit, so it is generally not necessary to use products of a higher concentration than this.
It is advised that DEET-containing products should not be used for babies under two months of age. DEET-based products are considered safe to use in pregnant and breast-feeding women; however, it is probably advisable to stick to products with concentrations of no more than 50%.
You should use any product containing DEET according to the manufacturer's instructions, as some manufacturers impose their own age restrictions.
Sources
- Insect bite avoidance. National travel health network and centre. www.nathnac.org, accessed 3 March 2008
- CDC health information for international travel 2008 (the Yellow book). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2007
Related topics
This information was published by Bupa's health information team and is based on reputable sources of medical evidence. It has been peer reviewed by Bupa doctors. The content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.
Publication date: March 2009
Dengue fever factsheet
Visit the dengue fever health factsheet for more information.
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