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Dengue continues to be transmitted across Asia.
Australia reported 
625 laboratory-confirmed dengue cases from 1 January to 30 June 2017 fewer than in the same time period in 2012–2016.
Bhutan reported 33 dengue cases in Phuentsholing, 46 in Samtse and 42 cases in Samdrupjongkhar between June and 13 July 2017 The health ministry announced an outbreak of dengue in these areas on 13 July 2017.
Cambodia reported 1 056 suspected dengue cases from 1 January to 14 July 2017, fewer than the same period in 2014–2016.
China reported 228 dengue cases from 1 January to 30 June 2017, similar to the same period in 2016.
French Polynesia reported 22 dengue cases between 18 June and 2 July 2017. 19
of the 22 cases were confirmed as DENV 1 infection.
India reported 23 094 dengue cases including 32 deaths from 1 January to 16 July 2017 compared with 129 166 cases, including 245 deaths in all of 2016.
Laos reported 3 958 dengue cases from 1 January to 7 July 2017. During the same period in 2016 there were 1 734 cases.
Malaysia reported 53 750 dengue cases from 1 January to 16 July 2017 compared with 61 534 cases during the same period in 2016.
Myanmar reported 10 101 dengue cases, including 54 deaths from 1 January to July 2017,
New Caledonia reported 4 368 dengue cases, including 11 deaths. The circulating serotypes are of type DENV 1 (1 636 cases), DENV 2 (322 cases) and DENV 3 (72 cases). The weekly number of cases is decreasing.
Palau reported 329 dengue cases including three deaths from November 2016 to June 2017, In 2016, 53 cases were reported.
Pakistan reported 303 dengue cases in Sindh (Karachi) between 1 January to 21 July 2017.
Philippines reported 38 233 dengue cases, including 222 deaths from 1 January to of 3 June 2017.
Singapore reported 1 595 dengue cases from 1 January to 21 July 2017, fewer than in the same period in 2013–2016.
Sri Lanka reported 105 153 dengue cases, including 296 deaths from 1 January to 25 July 2017. About 44% of cases are in the the country’s Western province. The highest case numbers were reported in 27 week of 2017. During 2016, Sri Lanka reported 54 727 cases of dengue, including 78 deaths.
Thailand reported 12 611 dengue cases from 77 provinces from 1 January to 17 July 2017. This includes an increase by 4 283 cases since 28 June 2017.
Vietnam reported 50 000 cases of dengue, including 15 deaths from 1 January to 20 July 2017. This is four times as many cases as during the same period in 2016.
Dengue is the second most common identified cause of febrile illness in returning travellers and the number of cases in travellers continues to increase. All travellers to endemic regions are potentially at risk of dengue fever and should be aware of this infection. Prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites.
Aedes mosquitoes are particularly persistent and aggressive and bite between dawn and dusk.
Methods of bite avoidance include:
• Wearing long, loose, lightly coloured clothing to cover up the skin during the day.
• The use of insect repellent containing DEET applied to any exposed skin between dawn and dusk.
• When sunscreen and DEET are used together, DEET should be applied after sunscreen. The effectiveness of repellent reduces more rapidly than sunscreen, therefore, repellent may have to be reapplied on top of sunscreen.
• The use of permethrin, impregnated mosquito nets protects against early morning bites and should also be used when sleeping during the day.
• The use of air conditioning if available and/or mesh screening of windows and doors.
• Eradication of mosquito breeding sites around accommodation/home (e.g. open containers, old tyres or flower pots that may collect water).
There is no vaccine against dengue fever licensed in the UK.
At present the World Health Organisation (WHO) is trialling several candidate vaccines against dengue fever.
For further information see Dengue Fever.
