Bali Tourist Urged To Take Precautions Against Dengue Fever 

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Tourists in Bali are being advised about a slight rise in the number of reported dengue cases.

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne virus that in the most severe cases can be fatal.

Luckily, there are plenty of easy and effective precautions tourists can take.

The number of dengue fever cases reported in Bali’s Bangli Regency increased by 65% in March 2024. Bangli Regency is best known to tourists as the home of Kintamani, Lake Batur, Mount Batur, and many of the agrotourism coffee plantations.

The total number of reported cases of dengue fever in Bangli reached 119 in the last month. 

The Head of the Bangli Health Service, I Nyoman Arsana, told reporters “Even though the number of dengue cases in Bangli district rose by 65%, compared to the position of March 2023, thankfully no dengue fever patients have died.”

He sent his gratitude to health workers and hospitals in the region for the effective care of hospitalized patients and was confident that those still suffering would make a full recovery.

He went on to say, “We at Bangli Health Service have carried out fogged or spraying to eradicate mosquitos 68 times, but the spraying can only kill adult mosquitos, but the larvae, mosquito eggs, can still give birth to dengue mosquitos.”

He called upon the community to keep a close eye on areas where stagnant water may gather to keep reducing the number of areas where mosquitoes can nest as much as possible.

This may also involve cleaning up waterways, wells, and large stagnant puddles. 

Figures for March 2024 for other regencies in Bali have yet to be released, but the increase in cases from Bangli Regency serves as a good reminder to tourists to keep taking the risk of dengue fever seriously and to ensure they are taking all precautions possible.

According to the World Health Organisation, mosquitoes that carry and spread dengue fever are most active during the daytime.

WHO suggests that reducing the risk of contracting dengue fever by protecting the body from mosquito bites can be done by wearing clothes that cover as much of the body as possible.

Tourists are advised to use mosquito nets if sleeping during the day, and ideally nets that have been sprayed with insect repellent.

They also suggest using window screens and mosquito repellents containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535. Repellants like coils and vaporizers are also effective. 

They suggest that if someone does contract dengue fever, it is essential to “rest, drink plenty of liquids.” Unlike other viruses there are very specific over the counter drugs that can and cannot be taken for dengue.

The use of acetaminophen like paracetamol for pain is OK, but patients must avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. 

What are the symptoms of dengue fever to look out for?

In fact, most people who contract dengue fever don’t even realize they have.

In most cases, no or simply mild cold and flu-like symptoms are present, and a full recovery is made in 1-2 weeks. 

If symptoms do occur they will likely being 4-10 days after the mosquito bite and will last anywhere between 2 and 7 days.

These symptoms may include: high fever (40°C/104°F), severe, headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands, a rash. 

It is important to note that people who are infected for a second time are at greater risk of developing severe dengue.

The symptoms of severe dengue generally come on quickly and require urgent medical attention. Severe symptoms generally appear after the initial fever has dissipated.

Severe symptoms of dengue fever, according to WHO, include: severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue, restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, being very thirsty, pale and cold skin, and feeling weak.

Most accommodation providers in Bali will be able to call for a doctor to visit guests/patients in the rooms; however, if hospital treatment is needed, the most popular international hospital for tourists in Bali at the BIMC Hospital in Kuta, the BIMC Hospital in Nusa Dua and the Siloam Hospital in Denpasar.