A record number of deadly dengue fever cases were imported into Britain last year, official data shows.
Cases of the tropical disease, which can cause agonising pain in the joints and muscles, landing in the UK surged to 904 in 2024, the highest level ever recorded.
Officials have now urged travellers to take precautions to prevent catching the virus, which is spread by mosquito bites, while overseas.
Dr Philip Veal, an expert in public health at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said: ‘Simple steps, such as using insect repellent, covering exposed skin, and sleeping under insecticide-treated bed nets, can effectively reduce the risk of mosquito-borne infections.
‘Before you travel, check the TravelHealthPro website for the latest health advice on your destination, including any recommended vaccinations.
‘Even if you’ve been to a country before, remember that you don’t have the same level of protection against infections as permanent residents and are still at risk.’
Dengue patients often experience an abrupt onset of fever, followed by severe headache, pain in the eyes, joints and muscles as well as nausea and vomiting.
The disease was historically known as ‘breakbone fever’ in the 1700s because the pain it caused was so severe people felt like their bones were breaking.
Dengue is normally transmitted by mosquito bites, but exposure to infected blood can also result in people catching the virus
Dengue can be fatal, depending on the severity of illness and if patients receive treatment.
Symptoms typically strike between four to 10 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito.
This means holidaymakers often fall ill upon their return to Britain.
Cases of dengue reported in the UK for 2024 are 43 per cent higher than the 631 recorded the year prior and almost 10-fold 2021’s figure.
UKHSA said the vast majority of cases, about one in three, were related to travel from South Asia, particularly India.
However, there was considerable growth in the number of travellers from South America with the virus, which they attributed to large outbreaks in Brazil.
Officials also noted that one patient who became ill with the virus had recently travelled from Spain.
While normally endemic to Central and South America, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia, experts have warned that climate change is making the Mediterranean more hospitable for the mosquito species that carry the disease.
Dengue is a potentially deadly virus passed to people by infected mosquitoes and was historically known as ‘breakbone fever’
UKHSA said Britain’s record breaking dengue cases were part of a global post-pandemic surge in the disease.
‘A range of factors, including climate change, changing distributions of the mosquito vector, and periodic weather events leading to rising temperatures, heavy rainfall and humidity are driving this increase globally,’ it said.
Britons with dengue symptoms, who have been in an area where the disease, is prevalent are advised to contact their GP or NHS 111 for an urgent appointment.
This is due to a risk of a potentially life-threatening complication that typically strikes just as people start to feel better.
While people infected with dengue recover after one to two weeks, there is a chance some can develop a far more serious form of the infection.
Called ‘severe dengue’ this is a life-threatening condition that develops in about one to 20 cases (five per cent) of people being infected with the virus.
Experts estimate this version of dengue kills half of people who suffer it.
Symptoms of severe dengue include severe stomach pain, repeatedly being sick, fast breathing, bleeding gums, nose bleeds, extreme tiredness, restlessness and blood in your vomit or faeces.
This map shows areas where mosquitoes capable of carrying dengue have been introduced in Britain. These populations have not yet established a permanent presence in the UK but experts have warned climate change means their spread is inevitable
These typically strike after between 24 to 48 hours after the initial wave of dengue symptoms has passed and people start to feel better.
It is a serious medical emergency and people with symptoms are advised to call 999 or head to A&E as soon as possible.
People who have had dengue previously are known to be more at risk of suffering a severe version of disease in the future from subsequent infections.
The NHS now warns people that dengue is a risk on European holiday-destinations like Croatia, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal and Madeira between Spring and November.
It also advises that people who are more vulnerable to dengue, such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with a weakened immune system should avoid traveling to areas where the virus is present.
Dengue transmission is currently not considered a risk in the UK, though mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus have been found in the wild in Britain previously.
Normally, people with dengue cannot pass the virus to others directly, though mosquitoes can bite them and then go on to infect other people.
However, very rare cases of dengue being passed on through contact with infected blood via transfusions or organ donation have been recorded.
Globally, there were a reported 6.5million cases of dengue of which 7,300 resulted in death in 2023, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
However, the WHO says modelling suggests there are 390million actual infections per year.
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