Ask DAN: What Should I Know About Vector-Borne Diseases?

I’m a new diver and have mostly been getting my fins wet off the coast of my home state, but I’ve been dreaming about a big dive trip. Recent news about Zika and other diseases, however, makes me nervous about traveling internationally. Before I make my plans, what do I need to know?

First of all, welcome to the world of recreational scuba diving. It’s an excellent sport for adventurers, and as you’re finding out, it often involves travel — sometimes to far-flung locations. During the certification process, you learned techniques to protect yourself from common diving-related injuries; as you increase your diving repertoire, learning about travel-related concerns is a natural next step.

Vector-Borne Diseases

The condition you mentioned is called a vector- borne illness. These are illnesses transmitted to humans by mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and other insects (or vectors). These diseases, which include Zika, malaria, chikungunya, dengue fever and others, are endemic to specific regions, although there is always the capacity for the disease to spread as vector populations migrate. We tend to associate vector- borne diseases with international locations, but we can find certain examples, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease, in areas of the United States.

Prevention

The best way to stay safe from the effects of a vector-borne disease is to prevent contraction. Learning that a great travel destination might expose you to disease-carrying vectors doesn’t necessarily mean you should cancel your trip; it might just mean that you will need to arm yourself with the appropriate information. When you’re investigating travel destinations, find out whether they carry a risk for any particular diseases and take appropriate precautions. These precautions might include any combination of the following:
• Vaccination
• Insect repellent (DAN recommends repellent containing at least 30 percent DEET)
• Protective clothing (hats, long pants and tucked-in long-sleeved shirts for topside adventures)
• Bed nets and mosquito screens
• Situational awareness (avoiding certain behaviors or environments within affected regions)

If you are using sunscreen in addition to insect repellent, make sure to apply the sunscreen prior to insect repellent. For extra protection, you also might choose to treat your clothing and gear with permethrin — a chemical widely used as insecticide and insect repellent. Last, if possible, try to sleep in air conditioned rooms with tightly sealed windows and doors.

Self-Inspection

If it is impossible to avoid circumstances that may expose you to vectors, perform a complete self-inspection after you have exited the area. Once you are in a safe indoor environment, shower and check your body for ticks or bug bites. If you have a bug bite, refrain from scratching it. Seek professional medical attention immediately if you develop muscle or joint pain, or a fever, headache or rash.

Do you have more questions related to diver health? Go to the Dive Medicine, Health & Fitness section of our website.

For more information on vector-borne diseases and other travel-related medical concerns, visit cdc.gov, who.int or dan.org/health.