The early signs of dengue fever can easily be mistaken for a seasonal flu
A warning has been issued over a deadly condition with a rash after worrying new UK figures. The UK Health Security Agency has released data indicating that Britain experienced a record number of imported dengue fever cases last month.
Levels are at an all-time high “since records began”. The NHS explains that these are considered ‘imported’ cases because the virus cannot be transmitted from person to person – instead, it’s contracted through infected mosquitoes that aren’t native to the UK.
The mosquitoes are usually found in parts of Africa and Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Pacific Islands, some regions of North America, or even certain southern European nations including Croatia, Portugal, Spain and Italy. If bitten by an infected mosquito, expect symptoms to emerge within four to 10 days, being initially flu-like—high fever, muscle and joint pain, swollen glands, intense headache—but also featuring distinctive signs like nausea, eye pain, and a spotty rash that spreads well beyond the bite site.
The NHS cautions that these rashes consist of flat or raised patches that can cover substantial areas of the body. Insect bite prevention expert and incognito co-founder Howard Carter is sounding the alarm on the spike in instances of Brits returning home with this dangerous mosquito-borne disease.
The expert cautioned: “Because of poor UK weather large amounts of people – some for the first time – are heading abroad to mosquito-borne disease countries, for some respite. Most are unprepared for the rise in mosquito populations in the tropics and even Europe from springtime onwards.”
He added: “There is no cure for dengue and with two thirds of the world’s population now at risk, everyone going abroad needs to treat this illness seriously…Do not leave it until the last minute to buy at the airport as shops there regularly sell out.”
Instead, he suggested the CLOAK method, an acronym spelling out the layers of protection that work best against bug-born illnesses like dengue fever and malaria:
C – Cover up as much skin as possible.
L – Light coloured clothing are less attractive to mosquitoes.
O – Odours including perfumes, scented toiletries and even some washing powders attract insects. However, other odours like some essential oils repel them and if you’re usually picked on by bugs the expert recommended using a natural loofah to scrub your skin every other day.
A – Apply effective insect repellent containing PMD, and reapply whenever necessary.
K – Keep emptying water containers and stay away from stagnant water if possible as this is where mosquitoes lay their eggs.
