Bali and Indonesia travellers are being urged to be wary of mosquitoes after a surge in dengue fever cases in WA.
The Department of Health issued a warning on Wednesday saying WA has recorded 138 cases of the virus so far this year — twice as many as this time last year.
Most of the cases were acquired in Indonesia, which has already reported 60,000 cases in 2024.
The virus is transmitted via an infected mosquito bite and symptoms include fever, rash, headache, fatigue, joint and muscle pain.
Those who are infected a second time are at greater risk of severe disease, which may be fatal.
Communicable Disease Control acting director Jelena Maticevic said the best defence against dengue fever was to protect against mosquito bites when visiting Bali and other high-risk countries.
“Dengue fever is spread through mosquitoes which tend to bite during the day and are usually found around buildings in urban or semi-urban areas,” Dr Maticevic said.
“There is no specific treatment for this illness, however the risk of contracting dengue fever can be significantly reduced by protecting against mosquitoes when travelling overseas.”
Other steps to prevent mosquito bites while overseas includes avoiding areas of high mosquito activity, wearing loose-fitting, long, and light-coloured clothing, wearing insect repellent, sleeping under a bed net, and closing doors and insects.
If you become sick on your return to WA, see your doctor immediately and inform them of your recent travel history.