Dengue fever Sri Lanka vacationers should urgently protect themselves from mosquitoes

Risk throughout the country: Protect against mosquitoes due to dengue fever in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, more than 160,000 people have already suffered from dengue fever this year. There is a risk of transmission throughout the country. If you want to spend your holidays in the Indian Ocean in the Indian Ocean, you should definitely protect yourself from mosquitoes.

Dengue fever epidemic in Sri Lanka

Those who spend their holidays in Sri Lanka should definitely protect themselves from mosquitoes. This year, about 163,760 dengue fever diseases have already been reported on the island nation in the Indian Ocean, which is "more than three times as many as last year. About 390 people died, "says the Center for Travel Medicine (CRM) on its website. It is the most severe outbreak of the dangerous tropical disease in the South Asian country.

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a severe dengue fever epidemic. If you want to spend your holidays in the island country in the Indian Ocean, you should definitely protect yourself from mosquitoes. (Image: nechaevkon / fotolia.com)

Disease is transmitted by diurnal mosquitoes

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 2.5 billion people worldwide are threatened by dengue viruses. The infectious disease is transmitted in the tropics and subtropics of predominantly diurnal mosquitoes.

The clinical spectrum in the case of infection ranges from mild forms that are almost symptom-free, flu-like symptoms with fever, headache, muscle and limb pain, to cases that cause internal bleeding and vascular damage.

Not all infected develop disease symptoms. Most of the complaints last about a week. In the majority of those affected the dengue fever disappears without further consequences.

Also vacationers are endangered. "The number of dengue infections annually imported by travelers to Germany is highly dependent on the epidemiological situation in the infected countries," writes the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

In 2015, 722 dengue fever diseases were reported to the RKI, most of them from Thailand. This also has to do with "that this is a high-traffic long-haul destination."

Protect against mosquito bites

Also in Sri Lanka, the virus disease occurs regularly. "With a transmission risk is expected nationwide, especially during and after the rainy season," said the CRM.

The worst affected are the western province with the administrative districts of Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara. However, the number of new infections has fallen since the beginning of August.

There is no vaccine against dengue fever as well as drugs for the causal treatment.

To protect yourself from infection, avoid mosquito bites. Wearing bright, loose clothes and using mosquito nets are ways to help against annoying mosquitoes.

Above all, the chemical defense is effective. As mosquito repellent agents are recommended with the active ingredient DEET (diethyltoluamide). (Ad)