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On 21 December 2017, the European Centre for Disease Surveillance and Control (ECDC) 
published an update on dengue in Asia and the Pacifioc region.
Australia reported 939 dengue cases from 1 January to 30 November 2017. These cases are imported and non-imported. In Australia, dengue is transmitted only in Queensland.
Cambodia reported 3 056 suspected dengue cases from 1 January to 28 November 2017. The reported number of cases in 2017 is smaller than in the corresponding period in 2014–2016.
China reported 1 645 cases of dengue in October 2017.
French Polynesia reported 25 dengue cases between 6 and 19 November 2017,
India reported more than 155 000 dengue cases (including 226 deaths) from 1 January to 17 December 2017. This compares with 129 166 cases, including 245 deaths, during the entire year of 2016.
Laos reported over 10 000 cases (including 14 deaths) from 1 January to 24 November 2017. The total for 2017 thus far is around double the total for the corresponding period in 2016.
Malaysia reported more than 81 000 dengue cases from 1 January to 17 December 2017. In all of 2016, Malaysia reported about 100 000 cases.
Nepal reported around 300 cases in each of Jhapa, Mahottari and Rautahat districts from late September to the end of November 2017.
New Caledonia reported 4 421 dengue cases from 1 January to 13 December 2017.
Pakistan reported more than 125 000 suspected dengue cases (including 69 deaths) from July to 10 December 2017.
Palau reported at least 490 dengue cases (including at least 5 deaths) from 1 January to 12 December 2017, according to media. In 2016, 53 cases were recorded.
Singapore reported 2 520 dengue cases from 1 January to 18 November 2017. This is fewer than during the corresponding period in 2013-2016.
Sri Lanka reported about 178 000 suspected dengue cases (including 395 deaths) from 1 January to 14 December 2017. This is over three times as many cases as in all of 2016.
Thailand reported more than 29 000 dengue cases (including two deaths) from 1 January to 11 December 2017.
Vietnam reported more than 173 000 dengue cases (including 30 deaths) from 1 January to 26 November 2017. During the corresponding period in 2016, 110 854 cases (including 42 deaths) were reported.
Wallis and Futuna reported 10 dengue cases from 1 January to 5 December 2017.
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.
