Dengue fever: guidance, data and analysis
The symptoms, diagnosis and epidemiology of dengue.
Dengue fever (also known as break-bone fever) is a severe flu-like illness caused by a viral infection spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Dengue fever does not occur in the United Kingdom. All cases reported have been acquired as a result of travelling to endemic areas, the majority to South and South East Asia, South and Central America, Africa and the Caribbean.
Health professionals should be alert to the possibility of dengue in those who have recently returned from an endemic area presenting with a fever or flu-like illness.
More information about dengue fever is available from NHS.UK, World Health Organization and the National Travel Health Network and Centre.
Diagnosis
Send the appropriate samples (with a full clinical and travel history) to the UK Health Security Agency’s Rare and imported pathogens laboratory (RIPL). RIPL is a specialist centre for advice and diagnosis for a wide range of unusual viral and bacterial infections including dengue fever.
Guidance
Epidemiology
Updates to this page
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Removed group details in the Epidemiology section and updated laboratory-confirmed cases in England, Wales and Northern Ireland page
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Added green book chapter 15a and travel-associated infections.
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First published.