Important Insect-borne Diseases
Malaria
is a very serious infectious disease and it occurs primarily in large parts of Africa, South and Central America, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia. Malaria is caused by a parasite that is transmitted between humans via mosquito bites. The illness presents itself about a week after the moment of infection, but it can take up to several months, and in very rare cases up to a year.
The symptoms often resemble those of influenza, it can be experienced as a general sense of lethargy, fever, chills, head and muscle aches, nausea etc. There are various types of malaria that produce different fever patterns. It is typical for fevers to peak with 1-3-day intervals during the course of a week to a month, but it is important to know that the most serious forms of malaria lack these typical fever peaks and often show a more irregular temperature curve.
As a rule, malaria is rather easy to treat. However, the most serious form, if left untreated, can involve serious complications and lead to death in a very short time.
If you get a fever while staying in a malarial region, seek a physician immediately!
If you get a fever within the next three months after coming home to your home country - immediately get help from the nearest infection clinic. Tell them that you have been in a malarial region!
You can protect yourself from malaria by avoiding mosquito bites and by taking malaria tablets.
Protection against mosquito bites
is very important. No mosquito bites, no malaria! It is especially important during night-time hours when the malaria mosquito is most active (see under the heading “Protection Against Mosquitoes and Other Insects”).
Malaria tablets
serve as a supplemental protection that reduces the risk of malaria. Unfortunately, the malaria parasites in many areas have become resistant to more and more medications. This means that there is still a risk of contracting the disease, even if you take malaria tablets.
Japanese encephalitis
(brain inflammation) is a viral disease that spreads via mosquitoes, above all in rural areas. The disease is found in India, South-east Asia and Indonesia.
The risk of contracting Japanese encephalitis is relative small. Most of those infected have no or minor symptoms. Among those who develop brain inflammation, however, the consequences can be very serious and perhaps even deadly. The symptoms are similar to influenza and above all headaches and fever.
The mosquito that transmits the disease bites at dusk and during the early morning hours.
Prophylaxis
Vaccination offers a very good level of protection; however do not forget about measures to protect yourself from insects (see under the heading ”Protection from mosquitoes and other insects”).
Yellow Fever
is a viral disease transmitted via mosquitoes to humans. The disease occurs in tropical countries around the equator in Africa and South America. The risk of being bitten is small, but the mortality rate is high - up to 30%!
Prophylaxis
Vaccination offers a very good level of protection; however do not forget about measures to protect yourself from insects (see under the heading ”Protection from mosquitoes and other insects”).
(see under the heading "Protection against Mosquitoes and Other Insects").
Dengue Fever
is caused by a virus that is transferred to people via mosquitoes. The disease commonly occurs in Africa, Asia, the Pacific region, South America and the Caribbean.
About one week after an infected mosquito has bitten, one will experience fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, back, muscle and joint paint, itching and rashes. These can last for about a week.
The mosquito - that spreads the disease - can also be found in urban environments and they are most active in the daytime, above all at dawn and dusk.
Sandfly Fever
is a viral disease that occurs in large parts of the tropics, but also in regions around the Mediterranean Sea.
The disease is spread through sandfly bites. Typical symptoms are fever, headache, muscle pains and sometimes nausea and vomiting. However, most of those who fall ill recover within about a week.
Leishmaniasis
is caused by a parasite that is transferred to humans through sandfly bites. These fly rather low, which is why most bites most often occur on the feet and lower legs. The disease occurs in various forms in many parts of the tropics. The most common form entails difficult-to-heal skin lesions around the bite. However, it is uncommon for tourists to contract this disease.
African Sleeping Sickness
occurs above all in the central regions of Africa and is spread by the tsetse fly. However, it is very rare that tourists contract this disease.
The disease is most often difficult to treat.
Chagas Disease
occurs in South America and is spread via triatominae, which attach to walls and ceilings in simple and primitive dwellings. The insects mainly bite at night time. However, it is very rare that tourists contract this disease. The disease is difficult to treat.
Chikungunya
occurs primarily in East Africa and Asia. The illness is spread via mosquitoes. The symptoms are reminiscent of dengue fever with its rapid onset, high fever, headache, muscle ache and pains in the joints. After a few days, some itching an uncharacteristic skin rashes occur.
There is no direct treatment for the disease.
Zika Virus
occurs in Africa, South-east Asia and South America. Symptoms generally last from a few days to up to a week and most often include fever, conjunctivitis (pink eye), pains in the joints and skin rashes.
Pregnant women suffering from the Zika virus are at risk of their unborn children suffering from microcephali (small heads). For the time being, we recommend that travellers - pregnant women in particular - who travel to areas with outbreaks of the Zika virus be especially careful in preventing insect bites. Furthermore, pregnant women should also consider not travelling to areas with a high incidence of Zika virus.
There is presently no vaccine or specific treatment against the disease and thus measures to guard against insect bites are of the utmost importance.