Worrying reason why so many Aussie travellers to Bali are coming down sick

Aussie tourists are being warned to take precautions when travelling to Bali after a drastic uptick in dengue fever cases was recorded.

One unlucky Queensland woman shared her diagnosis whilst connected to an IV drip in an Ubud hospital room on the popular Indonesian island.

During her 10-day trip she wrote she didn't see a single mosquito or get bitten, but still tested positive for dengue fever - adding she has been struggling to keep her temperature down. 

'Go to Bali, they said. It will be fun, they said,' she wrote in a Facebook group for Bali travellers. 

'Thank goodness for insurance.'

Many travellers have been flooding social media with their own stories of intense pain, uncontrollable vomiting and temperatures above 39 degrees.

There has been a drastic increase in reported cases, with Bali's Bangli Regency region up 65 percent compared with this time last year.

'I went in March and got it on my 30th birthday,' a Sydney woman shared.

'It was horrific, don't wish it upon anybody. The worst part is the fever and body aches.'

Another said: 'Got home to Darwin, same day the fever and full body rash started.'

'Off the plane, straight to hospital infectious disease isolation ward until they worked it out.'

Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection that infects 100-400 million people ever year in tropical and subtropical areas.

According to the World Health Organisation, most people recover in one or two weeks but in severe cases it can be fatal.

The mosquitoes that spread dengue are active during the day, so travellers are urged to protect themselves however possible from being bitten.

This includes warning tourists to dress in clothes that cover as much of their bodies as possible, and using DEET or picaridin-based mosquito repellents, coils and vaporisers.

Mosquito nets are recommended for those who like to sleep during the day, with the nets sprayed with insect repellent for added protection.  

Local media public health measures are now in place across the region including widespread spraying in an attempt to kill adult mosquitoes, Bangli Health Service boss I Nyoman Arsana said. 

About 120 people have been diagnosed with dengue fever in the region last month but none have died.

'In the first three months of 2024, [we have] seen an average of 322 such claims per month,' Insurer Cover-More Australia CEO Todd Nelson said.

'This indicates a monthly increase in these claim types of about 21 per cent.'

The most common health-related claims have been for 'Bali belly', respiratory infections and injuries such as surfing accidents, he told the Daily Telegraph.

Anyone who shows symptoms of dengue fever is recommended to get medical advice.