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Some of the most popular travel destinations for Australians are also places where dengue is common.

Prevention has traditionally relied on avoiding mosquito bites. But with the dengue vaccine Qdenga now available in Australia, travelers have another way to protect themselves.

Deciding whether to get vaccinated isn't always straightforward. Here's what you need to know.

Dengue is a viral illness spread by mosquitoes. It typically causes fever, headache, body aches, nausea and rash.

There is no specific treatment. Most people get better in one to two weeks, but for some, fatigue can persist for weeks or months.

Some people will develop severe illness and need hospital care and, in some cases, dengue is fatal.

There are four types of dengue virus. Infection with any type can make you sick. After infection, you're protected against that type in the future, but can still be infected by the other three. A second infection with a different type can sometimes cause more severe illness than the first.

The reasons are complex, but one is that antibodies left over from the first infection can make it easier for the new virus to infect cells.

People who live in, or frequently travel to, places where dengue is common are more likely to be exposed to different dengue virus types over time.

Although mosquitoes that can spread dengue are found in tropical parts of central and far north Queensland, local dengue outbreaks are now rare thanks to a successful public health program involving the release of mosquitoes infected with a bacterium that blocks the spread of viruses.

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