The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a warning on Tuesday urging doctors to remain vigilant for cases of dengue fever. A global surge in dengue infections has heightened the risk of the disease spreading within the US.
Dengue cases have been on the rise worldwide, driven by warmer temperatures attributed to climate change. The disease is primarily spread by mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and sometimes Aedes albopictus, which thrive in warmer and wetter climates. Historically, dengue has been rare in the continental US, with most cases occurring in individuals who had traveled to regions where the disease is endemic. However, this year has seen an unexpected increase in dengue cases among US travelers, with 745 cases reported as of June 24, according to the CDC.
In 2023, there were 1,829 travel-associated cases reported, marking the highest number since dengue became reportable in the US in 2010. Globally, outbreaks in 2023 affected 23 countries, totaling over 5 million cases reported to the World Health Organization, with 4,000 deaths in the Americas alone. In recent years, a few states with warmer climates and suitable mosquito habitats, such as Florida, Texas, Hawaii, Arizona, and California, have also reported sporadic outbreaks of locally transmitted dengue cases.
The CDC’s warning highlighted that global dengue infections in 2024 have reached record highs, particularly in the Americas, surpassing previous annual peaks. This underscores the growing threat and importance of surveillance and preventive measures against the disease.
