A young woman's dream birthday holiday in the Maldives turned into a two-year health battle after she contracted a dangerous tropical disease, initially mistaken for flu.
A Paradise Holiday Takes a Dark Turn
Gina Donner, a 26-year-old online marketer from Leipzig, Germany, embarked on a joint birthday celebration with her mother in May 2024. The holiday began idyllically, staying in a luxury villa with a private pool and enjoying activities like tennis and jet skiing amidst stunning scenery.
Several days into their planned 11-day escape, the weather turned. "I was pretty bummed about the weather," Gina admitted. Soon after, she began experiencing joint pain and her skin turned red. "My mum told me to use sun cream as I looked like a tomato, but I was using the sun cream the entire time," she recalled.
Misdiagnosis and a Rapid Decline
By the sixth day, Gina felt overwhelming heat and dizziness. Fearing sunstroke and her worsening condition, she and her mother cut the trip short. They flew to Dubai, a halfway point home to Germany, where Gina arranged for a doctor to visit her hotel.
The doctor tested her for various illnesses, including dengue fever, but the test came back negative. She was diagnosed with flu and given medication for the journey home. "I felt dizzy, I could barely stand up, it felt like a really bad flu," Gina said.
The Correct Diagnosis and Long Road to Recovery
Back in Germany, her condition deteriorated further, with red patches and blue bruises covering her body and legs. Her GP, who specialised in tropical diseases, immediately sent her to hospital. There, staff reviewed the Dubai documents and delivered the correct diagnosis: she had dengue fever all along.
Gina spent 10 days in hospital. With no specific treatment for the mosquito-borne virus, she was given painkillers. "It was three weeks before I could walk properly again," she revealed. The active woman who worked out daily found herself unable to walk for 10 minutes without feeling sick and dizzy.
Even 18 months later, Gina continues to struggle with constant fatigue and weakness, leaving her unable to work. "It's been almost two years, and my body is still so weak," she stated. "It's cost me two years of my life."
A Vital Warning to Other Travellers
Gina expressed surprise at contracting dengue in the Maldives, a destination not commonly associated with outbreaks. "I’d never heard of people getting dengue in the Maldives before, and the hotel didn’t say anything to us about being careful of mosquitoes," she said.
Her advice to other travellers is stark: "I would advise anyone going to the Maldives to make sure to protect themselves from mosquitoes, with bug spray and nets." She is now slowly exploring herbal remedies recommended from countries where dengue is more prevalent.
Dengue fever symptoms include high fever, severe headache, joint pain, and a blotchy rash. While most people recover within a couple of weeks, severe cases can be life-threatening.
