Since the beginning of 2026, Kazakhstan has recorded seven imported cases of dengue fever, reports infohub.kz.
The Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Control has reminded travelers of recommendations for prevention and preventing the importation of the fever into the country.
Travelers are advised to choose hotels or accommodations with air conditioning and mosquito nets on windows and doors; wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible (long sleeves, trousers), especially during excursions and outdoor activities; dress children in closed clothing and always cover strollers and carriers with mosquito nets; use insect repellents. If sunscreen is used, apply repellent over it.
If you suspect you have the disease, seek medical help immediately at the nearest medical facility.
Dengue fever is an acute viral disease with symptoms including meningitis, joint inflammation, and rash. The infection is transmitted through the bites of mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti, A. Albopictus), sandflies, and horseflies. Mosquitoes become infected 8-12 days after feeding on the blood of an infected person or some monkey species and remain infectious for 3 or more months.
These mosquito species are not found in Kazakhstan, but our citizens can contract the disease when visiting countries with unfavorable epidemiological situations. Tropical and subtropical regions include Southeast Asian countries (e.g., Thailand, Indonesia), South and Central America, and Africa.
Symptoms appear 4-10 days after the bite and last about a week: sudden high fever (up to 39-40°C), severe headache and pain behind the eyes, muscle, bone, and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, and skin rash.
During treatment, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Among antipyretics, only paracetamol is allowed. Aspirin or ibuprofen are prohibited as they increase the risk of internal bleeding. If the condition worsens, seek medical attention immediately.
Earlier, Kursiv reported on another equally dangerous disease — Ebola, which is rapidly spreading in Africa. The Ministry of Health of Congo reported that the number of Ebola cases has reached 5,515.