Changes to the country information pages: dengue vaccine recommendations

NaTHNaC has reviewed and updated the dengue country-specific information and vaccine recommendations

NaTHNaC with UK Health Security Agency has recently reviewed the country-specific guidance for countries with a risk of dengue. Further information is available about this review.

Based on this review, most countries with a known risk of dengue now have a vaccine recommendation for some travellers. Further information on dengue vaccine is available in the UKHSA Immunisation against infectious disease.

For the following countries sporadic local cases of dengue have been reported but vaccine is not recommended:

Australia, Croatia, France, Italy, Maderia, Spain, United Arab Emirates and USA. Information about dengue in these countries is available in the 'Other Risks' section of the country information pages.

Country-specific information can be found on our Country Information pages and Outbreak Surveillance section.

Advice for travellers

Before you travel

All travellers visiting areas reporting dengue cases or anywhere dengue is thought to be present are at risk of infection.

• See our Country Information to check the dengue risk at your destination and for specific advice about other health risks.
• Check Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) country advice for safety and security information for your destination.
• The live, attenuated (weakened) dengue vaccine called Qdenga® is licensed in the United Kingdom (UK), but it is not suitable for all travellers. Please see UKHSA Immunisation against infectious disease dengue chapter.

While you are away

Reduce your risk of all insect spread illnesses, including dengue, by wearing long sleeved tops and long trousers and applying insect repellent regularly.

Follow insect and tick bite avoidance advice carefully day and night

• As dengue is spread by day-biting mosquitoes, take particular care during the day, especially around dawn and dusk.
• Remember dengue is a risk all year round in tropical countries.
• Insect repellent should be applied after sunscreen and regularly reapplied after any activities, including swimming.
• 50% DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) based insect repellents are the most effective repellents currently available and can be used if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and for children from two months of age.
• If DEET is unsuitable, alternative insect repellents containing Icaridin (Picaridin); Eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclized; or 3-ethlyaminopropionate should be used.

If you are staying with friends or family, reduce mosquito breeding sites around the home by removing any pools of stagnant water in plant pots, gutters, drains and rubbish. Insecticide treated bed and cot nets offer good protection against mosquito bites when sleeping.

See Mosquito bite avoidance for travellers for more advice.

When you return

Fever and flu-like illness can occur due to a number of insect and tick-borne infections including malaria and dengue. Get urgent medical help and remember to tell your GP or nurse about every country you visited.

Advice for health professionals

Travellers with flu-like illness following recent travel abroad should be seen and assessed urgently for infections known to occur in the areas travelled.

Health professionals should consider the possibility of dengue in all returned UK travellers with a fever or flu-like illness who have recently visited dengue risk regions.

Health professionals who suspect a case of dengue in a returned traveller, should discuss this urgently with their local microbiology, virology or infectious diseases consultant, giving a full travel/clinical history. They may advise that appropriate samples are sent for testing to specialist laboratory facilities at the Rare and imported pathogens laboratory (RIPL) in the UK.