People traveling to Italy have been issued a warning due to the outbreak of a tropical disease. The country has reported nearly 200 cases of dengue fever, a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to humans.

Also known as fracture fever because it can cause severe muscle and joint pain making it feel like your bones are breaking, the illness can be serious and even lead to death in some cases.

It is often found in tropical areas, including parts of Africa, Asia, Central America, and South America. However, it is becoming more and more common in other parts of the world.

According to an update from Travel Health Pro, a total of 173 cases of “locally acquired” dengue fever have been reported in Italy since the start of 2024.

Locally acquired means the cases were detected in Italy, rather than by people traveling outside the country who then imported them.

The World Health Organization has noted that the incidence of dengue has increased “significantly” worldwide in recent decades.

The WHO says: “The disease is now endemic in more than 100 countries in the WHO regions of Africa, the Americas, the Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and the Western Pacific. The Americas, Southeast Asia and Western Pacific regions are most severely affected, with Asia accounting for approximately 70 percent of the global disease burden.

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“Dengue is spreading to new areas in Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean and South America. The highest number of reported dengue cases was in 2023.”

Symptoms

Dengue is a viral disease that spreads from infected Aedes mosquitoes to humans.

In extreme cases, this can be dangerous or even fatal. However, many infected people will not show any symptoms.

For those who do, the WHO says the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.

Other signs include:

• Pain behind the eyes
• Muscle and joint pain
• Vomiting
• Swollen glands

Most people get better within one to two weeks, but some people develop severe dengue and require hospital care. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal.

Serious symptoms include:

• Severe abdominal pain
• Persistent vomiting
• Rapid breathing
• Bleeding gums or nose
• Fatigue
• Hustle
• Blood in vomit or stool
• Being very thirsty
• Pale, cold skin
• Feeling weak

Prevention

According to the WHO, you can reduce the risk of contracting dengue fever by protecting yourself from mosquito bites using:

• Clothes that cover your body as much as possible
• Mosquito nets if you sleep during the day, ideally mosquito nets sprayed with insect repellent
• Mosquito nets
• Mosquito repellent (containing DEET, Picaridin or IR3535)
• Coils and vaporizers

The NHS says you should call 111 or make an emergency appointment with a GP if you feel unwell after traveling to a country where dengue is present. It adds that you should call 999 or go to the emergency room if you have traveled to a country where dengue is present and have symptoms of severe dengue.