A health alert has been issued for British tourists travelling to a popular European destination this summer as two potentially fatal diseases have been detected.
In Italy, health authorities have reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, mosquito-borne viruses that are typically found in tropical regions like South America and India.
Both were previously considered primarily imported diseases, found in individuals who had contracted them abroad.
However, the two new cases indicate that the viruses were caught within the country, according to the Foreign Office-backed Travel Health Pro.
Dengue fever cases have seen a significant rise globally, reaching a record high in 2024 with over 14 million reported cases, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
In June of this year, Australian holidaymakers were issued a warning after The Cook Islands, a nation in the South Pacific, declared the most recent outbreak of the disease after 19 cases, including two active cases, were recorded.
Case counts have also been increasing in Samoa, Tonga, French Polynesia, Fiji and Kiribati.
In July, Italy reported the first locally acquired case of dengue for the year, specifically in the Emilia Romagna region, while 82 imported cases of the virus were recorded in several regions.
In Italy, health authorities have reported the first locally acquired cases of both dengue and chikungunya, specifically in the Emilia-Romagna region (Pictured: Rimini, Italy)
Both of the mosquito-borne viruses are typically found in tropical regions like South America and India
Italian health officials also reported the first locally acquired case of Chikungunya for the year, again found in the Emilia-Romagna region.
An additional 50 imported cases of the virus were recorded across a number of regions.
Earlier this month, holidaymakers jetting off to France were warned they were at risk of contracting chikungunya after eight local cases were recorded.
The chikungunya outbreak has occurred far earlier in the year than is typical, and this could indicate the mosquitoes that carry chikungunya are becoming increasingly at home in France thanks to climate change, the warning said.
Though not fatal, chikungunya can cause a range of effects, which are primarily marked by a sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain, while other common symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue, and rash.
While the acute phase of the illness usually resolves within a week or two, the joint pain can persist for weeks, months, or even years in some individuals.
Meanwhile, dengue fever can cause a range of effects, including mild flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain.
However, in some cases, infections can progress to severe dengue, which can cause potentially life-threatening complications such as internal bleeding and organ damage, and death.
Though not fatal, Chikungunya can cause a range of effects, which are primarily marked by a sudden onset of fever and severe joint pain
Meanwhile, Dengue fever can cause a range of effects, including mild flu-like symptoms such as headache, fever and joint pain
Holidaymakers are urged to contact a local health professional immediately if they suspect they have been bitten by a mosquito during their travels.
It comes as Hawaii health officials are asking visitors to ensure they are vaccinated against whooping cough as cases reach an all-time high in the state.
Earlier this week, the state’s Department of Health reported 108 cases of the Victorian-era disease — dubbed the 100-day cough — a stark increase from last year’s 84 total cases.
According to data from the CDC, about 10,000 cases of the coughing malady and nearly a dozen deaths have already been reported across the country this year.
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