Unexpected Dengue Fever in Guam

The Guam Public Health Laboratory has confirmed the first locally-acquired case of dengue fever in the past 75 years. This case illustrates that local mosquitoes are infected with the dengue fever virus and more cases can be expected in the coming weeks.

Advice

The risk of exposure will vary from place to place and may be high in many localities.

All travellers to areas where the dengue fever virus is active can reduce their risk of exposure by taking all necessary precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Many persons with dengue fever do not seek medical care and are not reported to health authorities. There may be many more cases in the community than the reports indicate.

Travellers should also be aware that where dengue fever virus is active, there is a possibility in some locations that the chikungunya and Zika viruses may be present also since they are transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits dengue virus.