Protecting Yourself Begins With Being Informed

Here are some tips if you are planning to visit a country that may be affected by dengue fever:

* Check government and health-related Web sites that provide information on the disease and current outbreaks. (Be aware, however, that many countries are reluctant to report dengue cases.) It also may be helpful to check the Web sites and U.S.-based representative offices of your destination as well as media reports. Resources include:

* U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, http://www.cdc.gov/travel.

* World Health Organization, http://www.who.int/csr/don/en.

* Pan American Health Organization, http://www.paho.org.

* U.S. State Department Bureau of Consular Affairs, http://travel.state.gov.

* Visit a local travel clinic well in advance of your departure date (four to six weeks is recommended). It's a good idea to learn everything you can about dengue, its transmission and symptoms before you depart and to get any medicines or vaccines that may protect you from other illnesses while traveling.

* Avoid traveling to dengue-prone areas if you are pregnant or elderly and/or have young children.

* Stay in secure, well-maintained accommodations with air conditioning and screened windows and doors. Avoid or clean up mosquito breeding sites, including pools of standing water and artificial containers that store water (uncovered barrels, buckets, discarded tires, flowerpots, pet bowls, etc.).

* Protect yourself. Wear long shirts and pants, and apply mosquito repellent containing 20 to 30 percent DEET to clothes and any exposed skin during the day as well as at night.

* Seek medical advice immediately if you have a fever or other symptoms, especially after returning from overseas, and particularly from tropical areas. Acetaminophen may be used, but avoid aspirin and ibuprofen, which contribute to bleeding in dengue cases.

-- P.F.