The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has revealed that travel-associated mosquito-borne infections are returning to pre-pandemic levels.
Earlier this year, cases were confirmed in parts of the UK in individuals who had recently been abroad. This trend looks set to continue as we approach the holiday season.
Therefore, the UK government has warned about diseases such as dengue and malaria, which can cause severe disease.
They also stressed the need for travellers to take precautions to reduce health risks while abroad.
Mosquito bites are annoying but can also result in you catching diseases including #Malaria and #Dengue. This applies to large parts of Europe as well as long-haul destinations.
— UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) July 24, 2024
Watch our video on how to avoid being bitten, and find out more here https://t.co/Pvz179eSUf pic.twitter.com/lQ8O3npSbr
How do you prevent mosquito bites?
Avoid insect bites at all times including during the day. It is important to:
- cover up
- use repellents
- use nets
Mosquitoes that spread chikungunya, dengue, West Nile virus, yellow fever and Zika mainly bite during the day and at dusk.
Mosquitoes that spread malaria mainly bite in the evening and at night.
Repellent
It is important to use an insect repellent day and night, indoors and outdoors, on any exposed skin.
A product with 50% DEET is recommended as a first choice. If DEET is not tolerated, use of a repellent containing the highest strength formulation available of either icaridin (20%), eucalyptus citriodora oil, hydrated, cyclised or 3-ethlyaminopropionate is recommended.
- apply insect repellent according to instructions on the label – rub repellent into skin, making sure all skin is covered
- reapply insect repellent frequently, especially in hot countries and after swimming
- apply repellent after sunscreen (use 30 to 50 SPF sunscreen as DEET can make sunscreen less effective)
- 50% DEET is safe for those pregnant and breastfeeding and for babies older than 2 months
- get advice before you travel from your doctor or pharmacist if your baby is aged under 2 months
- take insect repellents with you – in case of shortages at your destination
Mosquito-borne infections on the rise:
Dr Philip Veal, Consultant in Public Health at the UK Health Security Agency, said: "As travel has increased following the lifting of travel restrictions during the pandemic, so have serious mosquito-borne infections.
"There are simple steps that people can take to reduce the risk of infections such as malaria, dengue and Zika. Prevent mosquito bites by using insect repellent, covering exposed skin and sleeping under a treated bed net.
"Plan ahead and visit the TravelHealthPro website to look up your destination and the latest health information and advice. Even if you have visited or lived in a country before, you will not have the same protection against infections as local people and are still at risk."
Recommended reading:
How to keep mosquitoes away with these 5 natural remedies
UK could be hit with deadly mosquito disease amid climate change
7 pests to look out for in your garden and home this summer
Dr Dipti Patel, Director of the National Travel Health Network and Centre said: "If you are making plans to travel abroad this year, please take a moment to prioritise your health and plan ahead.
"Check the relevant country information pages on our website, TravelHealthPro, and ideally speak to your GP or a travel health clinic 4-6 weeks ahead of travelling to ensure you have had all the necessary vaccinations and advice you need to ensure your trip is a happy and healthy one.
"When you return to the UK, if you feel unwell, seek medical attention and ensure you inform your healthcare provider that you have been travelling recently. "
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel