CDC advises US doctors to be cautious about dengue fever as cases rise worldwide

TAMPA, Florida – U.S. health officials have warned doctors to monitor cases of dengue fever as the number of new infections with the tropical disease continues to reach record levels in the Americas and around the world.

The mosquito-borne virus has become more prevalent around the world due to higher temperatures caused by climate change. In the first six months of 2024, countries in the Americas reported 9.7 million dengue cases, more than double the number of dengue fever cases reported in the region last year (4.6 million).

From January 1 to June 24, U.S. travelers reported a higher-than-expected number of 745 dengue cases.

The CDC recommended that doctors and healthcare providers:

• Increased suspicion of dengue in people with fever who have been in areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission within 14 days before the onset of the disease,
• Order appropriate diagnostic tests for acute DENV infection
• Ensure that dengue cases are reported to health authorities in a timely manner
• Promote measures to prevent mosquito bites among people living in or visiting areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, dengue cases skyrocketed. Last year, about 4,000 deaths due to dengue fever were reported in the Americas.
The CDC gave the public the following recommendations to prevent dengue fever:

• Learn how to prevent mosquito bites.
  • Use Environmental Protection Agency-approved repellents while traveling to areas with frequent or persistent dengue transmission and after returning from those areas.
  • Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved pants and shirts.
• Fight mosquitoes at home indoors and outdoors.
  • Use air conditioning and fly screens whenever possible to reduce the risk of mosquito bites indoors.
  • Empty and drain containers of water to reduce the number of mosquito nesting sites in your home and neighborhood.
• Seek medical attention if you have a fever or dengue symptoms and live in or have traveled to an area with dengue outbreaks.
• If you are planning a trip abroad to an area with frequent or persistent dengue transmission, protect yourself from mosquito bites during and after the trip.