Health advisory issued by CDC warns of dengue outbreak in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory regarding dengue virus infections in the United States. According to the CDC, in 2024, countries in the Americas reported a record number of dengue cases, surpassing the highest number ever recorded in a single year. From January 1 to June 24, there have been 9.7 million reported cases of dengue in the Americas, which is more than double the total number of cases in 2023, which was 4.6 million cases.

In the U.S., Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency due to 1,438 cases of dengue. U.S. travelers to Puerto Rico have also reported higher numbers of dengue cases than expected, with 745 cases in the first six months of the year. Dengue is a virus transmitted to people through mosquito bites, and symptoms can include fever, aches, nausea, vomiting, rash, and eye pain. More severe cases of dengue may involve symptoms of severe bleeding, shock, or respiratory distress.

The CDC notes that the mortality rate for dengue can be reduced from about 13% to less than 1% with proper management of symptoms with medical professional help. To prevent dengue, the CDC recommends individuals take precautions such as using EPA-approved repellents, wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved clothing, using air conditioning, and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed in communities.

Health care providers are urged to remain vigilant for symptoms of dengue, educate patients, and be prepared with proper dengue tests. The CDC also recommends the Dengvaxia vaccine for children aged 9 to 16 who have previously been infected with dengue or live in high-risk areas like Puerto Rico. Additionally, the World Health Organization recently prequalified a new dengue vaccine called TAK-003 for children aged 6 to 16 in high-risk environments.

Currently, there are no antiviral medications that specifically treat dengue.