A tourist who initially believed she was suffering from heatstroke was diagnosed with a deadly tropical virus, Dengue fever, after being hospitalised for 12 days. Serenity Tanner, 20, spent time surfing with her boyfriend when she started to feel unwell. Despite thinking it was heat stroke, she eventually woke up vomiting and was taken to a local medical centre where she received the diagnosis of Dengue fever, passed on by mosquitos.
Several countries have issued warnings about this disease due to the increasing spread of the mosquitos carrying it. Serenity had to be flown to Makati Medical Centre in Manila, Philippines, for treatment as her condition worsened. After being discharged on August 1, 2024, she flew back to the UK but is still experiencing fatigue and cognitive difficulties a month after her diagnosis.
Serenity described her symptoms as severe, likening them to being “hit by a truck” and more intense than a previous experience with sepsis. She highlighted the lingering effects such as weakness, brain fog, and constant tiredness. The rise of mosquito-borne diseases in countries like Spain and Greece, attributed to climate change, has prompted governments to issue warnings to residents and tourists about the potential dangers.
As Serenity continues to recover from her ordeal, her story serves as a cautionary tale about the risks of tropical diseases during travel and the importance of seeking medical help promptly in such situations.