What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is an acute viral disease. The incubation period is 3 to 14 days. Dengue fever is found mostly during and shortly after the rainy season in tropical and subtropical areas. In Hong Kong, both local and imported dengue fever cases have been reported.

It is important to remain vigilant at all times in preventing dengue fever in daily living and while travelling.

How is dengue fever transmitted?

Dengue virus is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites. There is no person-to-person spread. The mosquito Aedes albopictus, a vector known to transmit the disease, can be found in Hong Kong. The mosquito likes to bite people during daytime, especially two hours after sunrise and a few hours before sunset.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Symptoms of dengue fever include:

• High fever for three to five days
• Severe headache
• Muscle and joint pain
• Eye pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• Skin rash

In severe cases, the patient may present with bleeding and shock, and can die from the disease.

How can I prevent it?

At present, there is no effective vaccine against dengue fever. The best way to prevent dengue fever is to avoid mosquito bites and to eliminate pockets of stagnant water that serve as mosquito breeding sites at home, at schools, workplaces and their vicinity. "Let's remove stagnant water and eliminate mosquito for healthy living".

Please adopt the following preventive measures to protect yourself against mosquito bite especially when going outdoor or travelling:

1. Wear light-coloured long-sleeved clothes and trousers.
2. Use insect repellents containing DEET (for children keep DEET concentration below 10%) on exposed skin or clothing.
3. Rest in air-conditioned or well-screened rooms.
4. Use mosquito screens or nets when the room is not air-conditioned.

Please take the following precautionary measures at all times to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

1. Put all used cans and bottles into dustbins with cover.
2. Change water for plants at least once a week, leaving no water in the saucers underneath flower pots.
3. Cover tightly all water containers, wells and water storage tanks.
4. Keep all drains free from choke.
5. Top up all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of stagnant water.

If you have the above described symptoms, you should seek medical advice from your doctor. You should also advise your doctor of your recent travel history.

Health Education Infoline of
the Department of Health: 2833 0111

Department of Health
Travel Health Service

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department