# Dengue Cases Surge in 23 Popular Travel Destinations: What Ottawa Travellers Need to Know
If you’re planning a winter escape or spring getaway to the tropics, there’s an important health advisory you need to know about. Canadian health authorities issued a **Level 1 – Practise Health Precautions** alert on February 16, 2026, warning travellers about elevated dengue transmission in 23 countries. For Ottawa travellers heading to popular destinations like Cuba, the Philippines, or Central America, understanding dengue risk and taking preventive action is essential before departure.
## Understanding Dengue Fever
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through mosquito bites. Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitoes that bite mainly at dawn and dusk, the mosquitoes that spread dengue are active throughout both day and night, making protection more challenging. The illness can present with no symptoms at all, or it can cause severe fever, intense headaches, joint pain, and in serious cases, life-threatening complications. If you’ve been infected with dengue previously during past travels, your risk of developing severe illness with a subsequent infection increases significantly.
## Who Should Be Most Concerned?
Ottawa travellers visiting any of these affected regions should take precautions: American Samoa, Bangladesh, Belize, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Cuba, Guatemala, Guyana, Kiribati, Mali, Nauru, Pakistan, Panama, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Senegal, Sudan, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu, and Vietnam. Risk levels fluctuate by season, elevation, and specific areas within each country, so blanket assumptions about safety don’t apply.
Anyone with a history of dengue infection faces heightened risk and should take extra precautions. Families travelling with children, seniors, and those with underlying health conditions should also exercise particular caution.
## Protecting Yourself Before and During Travel
Currently, no dengue vaccine is available in Canada. However, vaccines are accessible in some European countries and other destinations. If you’ve had dengue before and will be in a location where vaccination is offered, discuss this option with a travel health specialist.
Prevention centres on avoiding mosquito bites completely. Apply approved insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or icaridin to all exposed skin. Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and full-length pants made from tightly woven fabrics. Choose accommodations with air conditioning or intact window screens, and use mosquito netting when sleeping outdoors or in open-air settings.
Schedule a travel health consultation ideally six weeks before departure—though even last-minute appointments provide valuable protection. A travel health specialist can assess your specific itinerary, medical history, and activities to provide personalized recommendations.
If you develop fever after returning home, contact your healthcare provider immediately and mention your travel history, as dengue symptoms can mirror other serious infections including malaria.
Planning to visit an affected destination? Our ISTM-certified travel health physicians provide personalized consultations 7 days a week — virtually, from anywhere in Ottawa. Book your virtual consultation at Orleans Travel Clinic Pharmacy.