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Major travel warning issued as 'breakbone fever' cases soar after celeb Cuba trips

An urgent health warning has been issued after former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Irish rap trio Kneecap embarked on a highly publicised trip to Cuba

[Warnings have been issued]

Warnings have been issued

A major travel warning has been issued to holidaymakers following a surge in cases of the potentially fatal "breakbone fever", coming just days after high-profile figures including former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Irish rap trio Kneecap embarked on a highly publicised trip to Cuba.

The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued an international alert after identifying a "higher-than-expected number of dengue cases" among travellers returning from 17 countries, including the Caribbean island nation.

Commonly known as "breakbone fever" due to the excruciating joint and muscle pain it inflicts, dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can cause severe and life-threatening complications.

[Several famous people went to Cuba to protest]

Several famous people went to Cuba to protest(Image: PA)

The health alert comes hot on the heels of a controversial "aid mission" to Havana featuring Corbyn and the Belfast-based hip-hop group Kneecap. The delegation recently arrived in communist Cuba to deliver 20 tonnes of humanitarian aidincluding solar panels, food, and cancer medicineas the country grapples with a severe energy crisis and widespread blackouts.

During the visit, Mr Corbyn used the platform to condemn American foreign policy. Stand up to the USA and say we don't accept your blockade of Cuba," the former Labour leader said. "It is simply wrong what is happening in any moral sense."

Liam g hAnnaidh, also known as Mo Chara from Kneecap, echoed the sentiment. Irish and Cuban solidarity is something that goes back a long time," the rapper stated. "We are honoured to be here to use whatever platform we have to continue to shine a light on this embargo and again to stand with the Cuban people."

However, anyone inspired by the celebrities' tropical excursion is now being urged to exercise extreme caution. According to the CDC, nearly 500 cases of dengue have already been reported in the US so far this year, with the vast majority contracted by individuals travelling abroad.

The illness is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. While roughly one in four infected people will develop symptoms - which typically include a high fever, nausea, vomiting, a rash, and characteristic severe body achesa fraction of cases can evolve into something far more dangerous.

In severe instances, the virus can develop into dengue haemorrhagic fever, which the CDC warns is a medical emergency that can lead to internal bleeding, shock, organ failure, and even death within a matter of hours.

"Severe dengue is a medical emergency and requires immediate medical care," health officials warned, urging anyone experiencing warning signs like intense abdominal pain, rapid breathing, or persistent vomiting to seek professional help without delay.

While the Level 1 travel notice does not advise against visiting the affected countrieswhich also include popular destinations like Vietnam, the Maldives, and Colombia - authorities are pleading with travellers to take the risk seriously and practice standard precautions.

Holidaymakers heading to Cuba and other at-risk destinations are advised to use registered insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers, and stay in air-conditioned accommodations or rooms with window screens to minimise their exposure to the disease-carrying insects.

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