Sri Lanka

What Is It?

Dengue is a viral disease spread by mosquitos. Dengue affects as many as 390 million people globally every year and can cause severe, life-threatening illness. It occurs in warm, humid environments throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia, the Pacific Islands, and parts of Australia. There are four different viruses that cause dengue, all transmitted by the same mosquitos.

How is it Acquired?

A single encounter with an infected mosquito is all that is needed to become sick with dengue. The mosquito that spreads dengue prefers to live in and around human residences in urbanized areas, and it bites throughout the day.

Signs and Symptoms

Dengue is very similar to Zika and chikungunya. Symptoms of dengue include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Body aches
• Pain behind the eyes
• Loss of appetite and nausea
• Sometimes rash

In most cases, symptoms last five to seven days. Fatigue and depression may persist for weeks after the illness.

Precautions to Take

Talk to a travel healthcare provider about how to avoid mosquito bites by the mosquitos that transmit chikungunya, dengue, and Zika. Some options include:

• Staying in buildings that have window and door screens to help keep mosquitos out
• Using air conditioning
• Using mosquito repellent on bare skin
• Treating clothes and shoes with mosquito repellent
• Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, socks, and shoes

What Is It?

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by a virus. Hepatitis A virus is widespread and can be found in multiple regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Symptoms of hepatitis A vary and depend on the age of the person infected. Children under age six may have mild disease or not have any symptoms at all. Older children and adults may have mild to severe symptoms, and recovery may be slow.

How is it Acquired?

Contaminated food and water are common ways that hepatitis A is spread. Hepatitis A is spread by human waste containing the virus. Poor sanitary conditions, as well as poor personal hygiene, may lead to the spread of hepatitis A.

Signs and Symptoms

Children under age six may have mild disease or no symptoms at all. Among older children and adults, symptoms may range from mild to severe. These may include:

• Sudden onset of fever
• Fatigue
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain
• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes)

Precautions to Take

Some hepatitis A precautions include:

• Only drinking and using safe water for all your activities
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Eating food that is cooked and served hot
• Only eating fruits and vegetables that have been washed in clean water and that you peeled yourself
• Speak with your healthcare provider about whether you should be vaccinated for
  hepatitis A

What Is It?

Japanese encephalitis is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitos. The Japanese encephalitis virus may be found in areas of Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific region. Although most Japanese encephalitis infections are mild (fever and headache) or have no symptoms, a small proportion develop clinical disease.

How is it Acquired?

Japanese encephalitis is spread by mosquitos. The mosquitos that spread Japanese encephalitis are found in rural and suburban settings, are active at night, and bite people both indoors and outdoors. For most travelers, the likelihood of acquiring Japanese encephalitis is extremely low.

Signs and Symptoms

Most Japanese encephalitis infections are mild (fever and headache) or cause no symptoms. A small proportion of people progress to severe Japanese encephalitis, which can include:

• Rapid onset of high fever
• Headache
• Neck stiffness
• Confusion
• Coma
• Seizures
• Spastic paralysis

Precautions to Take

Try to reduce the likelihood of mosquito bites. Some precautions include:

• Sleeping in a room with window/door screens
• Using air conditioning
• Using mosquito repellent on bare skin
• Treating clothes and shoes with mosquito repellent
• Using a mosquito net treated with mosquito repellent over the bed
• Wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts, socks, and shoes

What Is It?

Typhoid fever is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the bacteria Salmonella Typhi. Typhoid fever is found in most parts of the world (except industrialized regions); travelers are especially prone in Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

How is it Acquired?

Consuming contaminated food and water increases chance of infection. Another source of typhoid fever infection includes contaminated water that is used for drinking or washing/preparing food. Typhoid fever is more common in areas of the world where routine handwashing is not practiced and water treatment is not to standard.

Signs and Symptoms

With typhoid fever, some people may only have a fever that comes on gradually but increases over the first week of illness. Others may have additional flu-like symptoms, including:

• Headache
• Inability to eat
• Muscle pain
• General feeling of discomfort
• Mild confusion
• Non-productive cough
• Diarrhea • Constipation
• Abdominal pain

Precautions to Take

Some typhoid fever precautions include:

• Only drinking and using safe water for all your activities
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Eating food that is cooked and served hot
• Only eating fruits and vegetables that have been washed in clean water and that you peeled yourself