The peak season for dengue fever is here. You need to prepare in advance for the May Day holiday.

As temperatures rise across the country, mosquitoes are beginning to increase in number, and the peak season for dengue fever is approaching!

Dengue fever is mainly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. Currently, more than 100 countries in Africa, America, the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific have experienced epidemics, with the most serious cases in the Americas, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. Data released on the official website of the World Health Organization (WHO) show that since 2024, the number of cases in my country's neighboring countries and countries that have previously imported major dengue fever cases has increased compared with the same period in 2023. The "May Day" holiday is coming soon, and citizens who plan to go abroad should prepare in advance.

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What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever ("breakbone fever") is an acute infectious disease caused by dengue virus and transmitted by the bite of Aedes mosquitoes. Typical symptoms include sudden high fever, severe headache, orbital pain, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, rash, etc., which may be accompanied by flushing of the face, neck, and chest, conjunctival congestion, nausea, vomiting, etc.

The general population is susceptible to the virus, and the incubation period after infection is 1-14 days, mostly 5-9 days. Most dengue virus infected people have a good prognosis. In a few cases, it can develop into a severe illness or even death.

How to prevent it?

At present, there is no specific medicine for dengue fever, and there is no effective vaccine to prevent it in China. Therefore, prevention is the key!

Core measures - mosquito prevention and control! Avoid being bitten by Aedes albopictus or Aedes aegypti (also known as "flower mosquitoes" and "spotted mosquitoes").

1

Make the following preparations before traveling

✔ Understand the local dengue fever transmission situation;

✔ Prepare mosquito repellent. Mosquito repellent contains any one of DEET, chlorpyrifos, or picaridin as its main ingredient;

✔Prepare light-colored long-sleeved clothes.

2

Take precautions during travel

When going out, try to wear light-colored long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and apply mosquito repellent to exposed parts of the body; try to avoid staying in dark and damp places such as grass and shade during the day; try to choose places with screen doors and windows, and use mosquito nets, mosquito coils, etc. when sleeping; clean up stagnant water indoors and outdoors in a timely manner, and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.

3

Seek medical attention promptly if you notice any symptoms

If you develop typical symptoms of dengue fever while abroad or within 2 weeks after returning home, please seek medical attention promptly and inform the doctor of your travel history to avoid delays in the condition.

If you are diagnosed with dengue fever, it is important to:

Pay attention to rest, avoid fatigue and medium-to-high-intensity exercise;

Avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen and aspirin;

Cooperate with local disease control agencies and community workers in epidemiological investigations and mosquito prevention and control measures.

4

Remove stagnant water and mosquitoes indoors and outdoors in your residence

In order to protect the health of your family, after returning to China, promptly remove the indoor and outdoor water and mosquitoes in your residence. It is recommended to use screen doors, screen windows, mosquito nets, mosquito coils, etc. When cleaning up the water, if there are larvae in the water, be sure not to pour the water into the sewer, but pour the water on the dry ground. For useful water storage containers, water-planted bonsai, etc., regularly change the water 1-2 times a week. Do not litter bottles, cans, boxes and other garbage, and do not pile up used tires in the open air.

Planning and production

Source: Sichuan CDC

Editor: Yang Yaping

Proofread by Xu Lailinlin