The WA Department of Health has issued a warning to travellers after a nine-year-old West Australian boy died from dengue fever in the Philippines.
Glenn Pulgadas was holidaying with his parents when he was bitten by a mosquito.
He was admitted to an intensive care unit in the Philippines in mid-August suffering from nose bleeds and vomiting.
The Harvey boy was unable to be saved and died last Thursday.
After the ABC aired the family's warning to travellers, the Department of Health also issued an alert.
A spokesperson from WA Health said there had been 23 notified cases of dengue fever so far this year, with 80 per cent of people infected in Indonesia.
They urged travellers to take steps to prevent the infection as it had no specific treatment.
According to authorities, people should wear long, loose-fitting and light-coloured clothing, apply a chemical-based insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, sleep under a mosquito net, close all doors and windows that do not have insect screens, and request hotel rooms be sprayed for mosquitoes.
The virus is transmitted by mosquitoes in tropical climates and urban areas.
WA Health said the incidence of dengue had grown dramatically around the world with 100–400 million cases detected each year.
"The Department of Health is unable to comment on individual cases but is deeply saddened by reports of a South West boy who died while on holiday in the Philippines," a spokesperson said.
"While most dengue illnesses are mild, it can be life-threatening and severe dengue is a leading cause of death in some Asian and Latin American countries.
"It is best to prevent infection by taking steps to avoid mosquito bites while travelling in areas where dengue, and potentially other serious mosquito-borne diseases including malaria, occur."
Outbreak in the Philippines
South West Filipino community leader James Junio said many Filipino-Australian families were starting to visit their home country following the opening of the borders.
Mr Junio urged travellers to take precautions given the dengue outbreak in the Philippines.
He described Glenn's death as a tragedy and said, although nothing could bring him back, he was proud of the efforts shown by the local Harvey community.
Tens of thousands of dollars have been raised for Glenn's family to cover funeral and medical expenses.
Glenn's mother Ryza Pulgadas told the ABC she was lost for words at the support shown by the community.
"For all the support they showed us — physically, emotionally, spiritually and the financial support — no words can explain how much we appreciate it, and thank you is not enough," she said.
Ms Pulgadas has described her son as "sweet, caring, bright and bubbly".
