Illness & Symptoms

When to Call for Mosquito-Borne Diseases from Travel

Care Advice

Malaria Questions

What You Should Know About Malaria:

• It is a parasite disease spread by the bite of mosquitoes. The parasites enter red blood cells and destroy them.
• World Impact: There are over 200 million new cases per year. It is a leading cause of death in the world. In Africa, one child dies every minute from it. It causes almost 1 million deaths per year.

Symptoms:

• Bouts of high fever occur every 2 to 3 days.
• Shaking chills come before the fever.
• The fever is followed by profuse sweating.
• Severe headache, muscle pains and feeling very tired is common.
• Sometimes, jaundice (yellow skin) occurs.

Cause:

• Malaria is caused by a tiny parasite (protozoan) carried by some mosquitoes.
• Spread is mosquito to human.
• The disease is carried by an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a human infected with malaria. The parasite is then passed on to healthy humans in the spit from a bite. It then enters the person's red blood cells.

Time Period to Get Sick:

• The time from the bite to symptoms is 5-15 days.

Contagious Period:

• Person to person spread of the illness does not occur.
• Kissing or sharing a glass with a person who has malaria is safe.

Tests and Treatment:

• Blood smears and other blood tests are done to diagnose it.
• It is treated with anti-malaria drugs.
• For severe symptoms, patients will need care in a hospital.

What to Expect:

• Patients have good outcomes if treated early.
• Deaths are highest in infants: up to 3%.

How to Prevent:

• Use insect repellents (such as DEET).
• Bed nets can help protect you at night during sleep.
• Malaria drugs are often prescribed before travel to a high risk zone.
• There is no vaccine to prevent it.

Countries with Malaria:

• It occurs in Africa, lower Asia, Central and South America. Over 90% of cases occur in Africa.
• It does not occur in the US except in travelers coming back. This results in about 1500 US cases per year.
• For more info and for current high-risk countries, see the CDC website.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Yellow Fever Questions

What You Should Know About Yellow Fever:

• It is viral disease spread by the bite of mosquitoes. The virus attacks the liver and kidneys.
• World Impact: Africa has 200,000 new cases each year. There are over 30,000 deaths each year. Now, it is rare in travelers because of the yellow fever vaccine.

Symptoms:

• High fevers with shaking chills occur.
• Other symptoms are severe headache, backache and muscle pains.
• Jaundice (yellow skin) is common. Hence, the name yellow fever.
• If the disease progresses, bleeding from the skin, nose, gums and gut will occur.

Cause:

• Spread is mosquito to human.
• The virus is carried by an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a human infected with yellow fever. The virus is passed on to healthy humans in spit from a bite.

Time Period to Get Sick:

• The time from the bite to symptoms is 3-6 days.

Contagious Period:

• Person to person spread of the illness does not occur.
• Kissing or sharing a glass with a person who has yellow fever is safe.

Tests and Treatment:

• Blood tests are needed to diagnose it.
• Patients need care in a hospital.
• There are no anti-viral drugs for treating it.

What to Expect:

• The death rate in people with complications can be high.

How to Prevent:

• Vaccine: there is a yellow fever vaccine to prevent the illness.
• Use insect repellents (such as DEET).
• Bed nets can help protect you at night during sleep.

Countries with Yellow Fever:

• Mostly occurs in Africa.
• Less common in South America (100 cases per year). Reason: wide use of the vaccine.
• It does not occur in the US except in travelers coming back.
• For more info and for current high-risk countries, see the CDC website.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Dengue Fever Questions

What You Should Know About Dengue Fever:

• It is a viral disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
• World Impact: 90 million new infections each year in the world. It causes 20,000 deaths per year.

Symptoms:

• High fever with shaking chills occurs.
• Patients can also have severe headache, eye pain, joint pain and muscle pains.
• Bone pain can be severe.
• A widespread pink rash is common.
• If the disease progresses, bleeding from the skin, nose, gums and gut can occur.

Cause:

• Spread is mosquito to human.
• The virus is carried by an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a human infected with dengue. The virus is passed on to healthy humans in spit from a bite.

Time Period to Get Sick:

• The time from the bite to symptoms is usually 3-7 days. Sometimes, it can be up to 14 days.

Contagious Period:

• Person to person spread of the illness does not occur.
• Kissing or sharing a glass with a person who has dengue is safe.

Tests and Treatment:

• Blood tests are needed for people with severe disease.
• Treatment consists of rest and lots of fluids.
• For severe symptoms, patients need care in a hospital.
• There are no anti-viral drugs for treating it.

What to Expect:

• Fever lasts up to 7 days.
• Symptoms last up to 2 weeks.
• Most people recover fully.
• If bleeding occurs, the death rate can be 1%.

How to Prevent:

• Use insect repellents (such as DEET).
• Bed nets can help protect you at night during sleep.
• There is no vaccine to prevent it.

Countries with Dengue Fever:

• It occurs in Asia, Africa, South America and the Caribbean islands.
• It does not occur in the US except in travelers coming back. A few cases have occurred in Florida and Texas.
• For more info and for current high-risk countries, see the CDC website.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Chikungunya Fever Questions

What You Should Know About Chikungunya Fever:

• It is a viral disease spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
• World Impact: It is a common disease, but rarely any deaths.

Symptoms:

• Most common symptoms are fever and joint pain.
• The joint pain starts in the hands and feet.
• This can progress to swollen joints.
• Other symptoms are headache and muscle pains.
• A widespread pink rash may occur.

Cause:

• Spread is mosquito to human.
• The virus is carried by an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a human infected with Chikungunya. The virus is passed on to healthy humans in spit from a bite.

Time Period to Get Sick:

• The time from the bite to symptoms is 3-7 days.

Contagious Period:

• Person to person spread of the illness does not occur.
• Kissing or sharing a glass with a person who has chikungunya is safe.

Tests and Treatment:

• Blood tests are done for people with severe disease.
• Treatment is mainly rest and lots of fluids.
• Medicines are given for pain and fever.
• For severe symptoms, patients will need care in a hospital.
• There are no anti-viral drugs for treating it.

What to Expect:

• Most symptoms are gone within a week.
• In some people, the joint pain can last for months.
• Deaths are very rare.

How to Prevent:

• Use insect repellents (such as DEET).
• Bed nets can help protect you at night during sleep.
• There is no vaccine to prevent it.

Countries with Chikungunya:

• It is common in Africa and Asia.
• In 2013, the disease was first reported in the Caribbean islands.
• It then spread to Central and South America.
• Does not occur in the US except in travelers coming back.
• No signs of the disease yet in US mosquitoes.
• For more info and current high-risk countries, see the CDC website.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Zika Virus Questions

What You Should Know About Zika Virus:

• Zika is a viral disease spread by the bite of mosquitoes.
• A major outbreak was reported in Brazil in May 2015. It then spread through the Americas and the Caribbean.

Zika Virus Symptoms:

• 80% of infections have no clinical symptoms.
• Mild illness: 20% of infections. Symptoms include fever, pink rash, joint pains, headache, body aches and red eyes. These symptoms last 3 to 6 days and go away without any treatment. Severe symptoms are not common.

Birth Defects and Zika Virus:

• A pregnant woman who gets a Zika infection can pass the virus to her baby. The baby may develop a severe birth defect called microcephaly. It causes babies to be born with a small head and brain damage. Eye defects have also been reported.
• The risk of microcephaly is 1-5% depending on the time of pregnancy. The first 3 months of pregnancy carries the greatest risk of causing this birth defect.
• Pregnant women who get Zika within 2 weeks of delivery can pass it to the newborn. The newborn will be ill, but not have birth defects.
• Babies who get Zika from a bite have the same mild symptoms as others. They cannot develop microcephaly after they are born.

Cause:

• Spread is usually from mosquito to human.
• The virus is carried by an infected mosquito. The mosquito becomes infected when it bites a human infected with Zika. The virus is passed on to healthy humans in spit from a bite.
• Pregnant women can pass the virus to their baby.
• Breastfeeding: it is not passed in breastmilk. Continue to breastfeed (CDC).
• Sexual intercourse: it can be transmitted through sex. If their partner is pregnant, males who have been in high-risk areas should use condoms. Use these until the baby is delivered. If a man or woman travels to a Zika risk area, use condoms. Avoid pregnancy for 8 weeks.

Time Period to Get Sick:

• The time from the bite to symptoms is 3 days to 2 weeks.

Tests and Treatment:

• Blood tests are needed to diagnose Zika virus.
• When do you need to get a blood test? Any pregnant woman who has recently traveled to or lives in a high-risk area for Zika virus. See CDC website. Blood tests are mainly available at CDC and some state public health labs. If you need a blood test, talk to your obstetrician (OB doctor).
• There are no anti-viral drugs for treating it. Treat the symptoms with increased fluids and pain medicine.

What to Expect:

• If symptoms occur, they usually last less than 1 week.

How to Prevent:

• Use insect repellents such as DEET.
• Bed nets can help protect you at night during sleep.
• There is no vaccine to prevent it.

Countries with Zika Virus:

• Current outbreak South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Also in isolated areas of Africa and Asia.
• Until July 2016, mosquito transfer of Zika virus in the US did not occur. The disease only occurred in travelers coming back into the US. In 2016, there were more than 4,000 US cases associated with travel to high-risk countries.
• In August 2016, a small outbreak transmitted by local mosquitoes began in Florida. Predictions are that it will eventually occur in several southern US states.
• For up-to-date information and current high-risk areas, see the CDC website.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You have other questions or concerns

Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.