Dengue fever circumstances have been rising amongst U.S. vacationers and are anticipated to climb this yr, in accordance with a warning from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
A “record number” of dengue fever circumstances had been recognized amongst U.S. vacationers final yr—a complete of three,484—an 84 p.c enhance in comparison with the yr earlier than.
“This trend is expected to continue with increased dengue activity in endemic areas in 2025,” the warning from the CDC reads.
Dengue exercise stays excessive in some components of the USA and around the globe and transmission of the illness stays excessive within the Americas and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Dengue is extra simply unfold in the course of the hotter months, putting spring and summer season vacationers at an elevated danger of contracting the illness.
Instances of the virus have elevated in the course of the previous 5 years notably within the Individuals, in accordance with the World Well being Group.
There have been 7.6 million circumstances of the virus reported to the WHO in 2024 alone, together with 3.4 million confirmed circumstances, greater than 16,000 extreme circumstances and over 3,000 deaths from the virus.
In Puerto Rico, dengue fever circumstances have been above the outbreak threshold since February of final yr. A public well being emergency was declared in March 2024 and stays in impact.
The island reported 6,291 circumstances of dengue in 2024 with greater than 52 p.c requiring hospitalization and 13 leading to dying, in accordance with the CDC.
A dengue outbreak additionally was declared in August 2024 on the U.S. Virgin Islands and stays in impact.
A complete of 208 circumstances had been recognized in 2024 and 30 in 2025 as of early March. The very best numbers of travel-associated dengue circumstances in 2024 had been reported in Florida, California and New York, in accordance with the CDC.
