Dengue: what travellers from Urmston should know
There's no routine jab we can give you for dengue, so the visit is really about good advice — knowing where the risk is and how to keep daytime mosquitoes off you. Pop in and we'll talk it through.
Dengue is a viral infection passed on by mosquitoes, and it's one of the questions we get asked about most by travellers heading off from Manchester Airport to places like Thailand, Bali, Sri Lanka, Brazil and the Caribbean. Unlike many of the diseases we cover, there isn't a vaccine we'd give as part of a normal travel appointment — so the most useful thing we can do is help you understand the risk on your route and how to keep the mosquitoes off you.
Most people who catch dengue feel rotten for a week or two — high fever, a thumping headache, pain behind the eyes, sore muscles and joints — and then recover fully at home. A smaller number become more seriously unwell, which is why it's worth taking bite avoidance seriously, especially on longer trips or if you've had dengue before. Come and see us before you fly and we'll tailor the advice to where you're going.
Who should pay extra attention
Anyone travelling to dengue-affected parts of Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific or sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in towns and cities
Longer-stay travellers, backpackers and people visiting friends and family, who simply rack up more days of exposure
Travellers who've had dengue once before — a second, different infection can sometimes be more severe, so bite avoidance matters even more
How you catch it
Dengue spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes — the same family that carries Zika and chikungunya. The key thing to remember is that these mosquitoes are daytime biters, most active around dawn and in the few hours before dusk, which catches a lot of people out who assume mosquito risk is only an after-dark problem. They breed happily in small pools of standing water around hotels, gardens and built-up areas, so cities and resorts can carry just as much risk as rural spots. You can't pass dengue straight to another person — it always travels via a mosquito.
Where the risk is
Dengue is found across the tropics and subtropics: much of South and South-East Asia, Central and South America, the Caribbean, many Pacific islands, and parts of Africa. Hotspots travellers from Trafford often ask us about include Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Brazil and Mexico. Risk shifts with the seasons — it tends to climb during and after the rainy season, when there's more standing water for mosquitoes to breed in. We'll check the latest TravelHealthPro country guidance for your specific destination when you come in, as the picture changes from year to year.
How to avoid bites
Because there's no jab to fall back on, mosquito-bite avoidance is your main defence — and it works. Use a good insect repellent containing DEET (commonly 20–50%) on exposed skin, and reapply through the day, especially after swimming or sweating. Cover up where you can with loose, long-sleeved tops and trousers, treat clothing with permethrin if you'll be very exposed, and sleep somewhere screened or air-conditioned. A net helps if you're napping during the day, when these mosquitoes are most active. We can recommend repellents and talk you through the practical bits in the pharmacy.
Spotting it and what to do
Symptoms usually show up around 4 to 10 days after a bite: sudden high fever, a severe headache, pain behind the eyes, aching muscles and joints, feeling sick and sometimes a rash. Most people manage at home with rest, fluids and paracetamol for the fever and aches. Avoid ibuprofen and aspirin if you suspect dengue, as they can raise the risk of bleeding — paracetamol is the safer choice. Seek medical help promptly if you're getting worse rather than better, particularly with severe tummy pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding gums or nose, or you feel very unwell. If you come home from a dengue area with a fever, always mention your travel to your GP or NHS 111.
Frequently asked questions
There's no dengue vaccine offered as part of a routine UK travel appointment, so we don't give one here. A vaccine called Qdenga does exist, but in the UK it's only considered in specific situations and isn't part of standard travel-clinic care — so for almost all travellers, the advice is to focus on avoiding mosquito bites. Our pharmacist can talk through your particular trip if you'd like.
Yes — keep your repellent on. Aedes mosquitoes that carry dengue are most active in daylight, but in many of the same destinations the mosquitoes that spread malaria bite at night, so round-the-clock bite avoidance is the sensible approach. We'll tell you what matters most for your specific destination.
A repellent containing DEET, usually around 20–50%, is the most reliable option and is considered safe for adults and children over the recommended age when used as directed. Higher strengths last longer between applications rather than working better. Pop into Davyhulme Pharmacy and we'll help you pick something suitable for you and your trip.
Not fully. There are four different types of the dengue virus, so having had one doesn't protect you from the others — and a second infection with a different type can sometimes be more serious. If you've had dengue before, it's especially worth being strict about avoiding bites, and we're happy to talk it through.
Take any fever after travel to a dengue area seriously. Use paracetamol rather than ibuprofen or aspirin, rest and keep your fluids up, and contact your GP or NHS 111 — always mention where you've been and when. Seek help urgently if you have severe tummy pain, repeated vomiting, any bleeding, or you're feeling rapidly worse.
Sources & further reading
This information is grounded in NHS, TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC) and UKHSA guidance and is for general information only — not a substitute for a personal consultation. Your suitability is assessed by our pharmacist before any vaccination.
Related vaccines
Travelling somewhere with dengue?
Book a travel health appointment in Urmston and we'll match your bite-avoidance and vaccine advice to exactly where you're heading.