A young woman's luxury birthday holiday in the Maldives turned into a two-year health battle after she contracted a dangerous tropical disease, dengue fever.
Dream Getaway Turns Sour
Gina Donner, a 26-year-old online marketer from Leipzig, Germany, embarked on a dream joint birthday trip with her mother in May 2024. Staying in a villa with a private pool, the holiday began perfectly with tennis, jet skiing, and stunning views.
However, several days into their 11-day escape, the weather turned. Gina then developed severe joint pain and her skin began turning 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 Deterioration
By the sixth day, Gina felt intensely hot and dizzy. Fearing sunstroke and feeling increasingly unwell, she made the difficult decision to cut the trip short. She and her mother flew to Dubai, a halfway point home to Germany.
In Dubai, a doctor visited her hotel room. Despite testing for dengue, the result came back negative. Gina says the doctor dismissed her symptoms as the flu and gave her medication for the journey home.
Back in Germany, her condition worsened dramatically. "I had red patches all over my body and blue bruises all over my legs," Gina said. Her GP, who specialised in tropical diseases, immediately sent her to hospital.
A Life-Altering Diagnosis
Hospital staff reviewed her Dubai documents and delivered the correct diagnosis: she had dengue fever all along. The mosquito-borne infection has no specific treatment.
Gina spent 10 days in hospital and was told her condition was serious. "It was three weeks before I could walk properly again," she explained. The long-term impact has been profound. "Before dengue, I worked out almost every day. After dengue, I couldn’t even walk for 10 minutes by myself."
Even now, almost two years later, she continues to suffer from constant fatigue and weakness, leaving her unable to work. "It's cost me two years of my life," she stated.
A Stark Warning to Travellers
Gina expressed surprise at contracting dengue in the Maldives, noting the hotel gave no warnings. "I’d never heard of people getting dengue in the Maldives before," she said.
Her advice to other travellers is clear: protect yourself from mosquitoes. She recommends using insect repellent and mosquito nets, even in seemingly idyllic locations. Thankfully, Gina is now slowly starting to feel better, exploring herbal remedies used in countries where dengue is common.
