Travel Health
Dengue
Dengue is a viral infectious disease. It is also called breakbone fever.
Source: National Coordination Centre for Travellers' Health (LCR). Last updated August 13, 2026 · Open the LCR page
What is Dengue?
According to LCR (Dutch travel advice)
Dengue is a viral infectious disease. It is also called breakbone fever.
You can get dengue in urban areas in many countries with a warm or (sub)tropical climate. Risk rises in the rainy season, when large outbreaks can occur. Dengue infections have increased worldwide over the past 50 years.
You get the disease if you are bitten by a mosquito carrying the dengue virus. That happens mainly during the day. You cannot infect other people.
Dengue usually resembles a mild flu, with fever, headache (behind the eyes), muscle pain and joint pain. A rash can appear after a few days. Rarely the disease is severe, with bleeding, and hospital care may be needed. The chance of severe disease is slightly higher if you have had dengue before.
Keep mosquitoes away during the day. There is a dengue vaccine for adults and children older than four. Ask a travel clinic what is possible for you.
According to WHO
- Dengue is a viral infection spread by mosquito bites. About half the world’s population is at risk; WHO estimates 100–400 million infections a year.
- Most infections are mild or silent. Severe dengue can be fatal, especially after a second infection.
- There is no specific treatment. Early detection and proper care greatly lower fatality in severe dengue.
Depends on your trip
- American Samoa
- Anguilla (Brits overzees gebied)
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Aruba
- Bahamas
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
- Brazil
- Brunei
- Burkina Faso
- Cambodia
- Cape Verde
- Chad
- China
- Christmas Island (Australia)
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Cook Islands (New Zealand)
- Coral Sea Islands (Australia)
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Curaçao
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador (incl. Galapagos eilanden)
- El Salvador
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Franse Antillen (Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Barthélemy & St Martin)
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia (incl. Tahiti)
- Grenada
- Guam (United States)
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- India
- Indonesia
- Ivoorkust
- Jamaica
- Kaaiman eilanden (Brits overzees gebied)
- Kiribati
- Laos (Democratische Volksrepubliek Laos)
- Macao
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia, Federated States of
- Montserrat (Brits overzees gebied)
- Myanmar (voormalig Birma)
- Nauru
- Nepal
- New Caledonia (Frans overzees gebied)
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Niue (New Zealand)
- Northern Mariana Islands (United States)
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Puerto Rico (United States)
- Réunion (Frans overzees gebied)
- Saba
- Samoa (West Onafhankelijke Staat Samoa)
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Solomon Islands (Brits overzees gebied)
- Sri Lanka
- St Eustatius
- St Kitts en Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Maarten
- St Vincent en de Grenadines
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Taiwan, Province of China
- Thailand
- Timor-Leste
- Togo
- Tokelau (New Zealand)
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- Tuvalu
- United Kingdom (Brits territorium Indische oceaan)
- Uruguay
- Vanuatu
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Virgin Islands, British
- Virgin Islands, U.S.
- Wallis and Futuna (Frans overzees gebied)
- Yemen
Frequently asked questions
- What is Dengue?
- Dengue is a viral infectious disease. It is also called breakbone fever.
- Which countries is Dengue relevant for?
- LCR mentions Dengue for 110 destinations, including American Samoa, Virgin Islands, U.S., Anguilla (Brits overzees gebied), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina. Open a country for the full advice.
- Is vaccination against Dengue required?
- LCR lists Dengue mainly as advice, not as a required entry vaccination. Whether you need it depends on your trip.
- When should I get travel vaccinations?
- Book a travel clinic appointment 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Some vaccines need more than one dose.
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