The Hawaii Department of Health has confirmed another case of dengue fever linked to travel to Oahu, about a week after a previous case was reported, bringing the total to six in the state so far this year.
The health ministry said the individual had travelled to an area where dengue fever is known to be spreading, and teams had been deployed to inspect and control mosquitoes in the affected areas, but did not reveal where.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an alert Tuesday, advising health care providers and public health officials of an increased risk of dengue virus in the United States this year.
“The global incidence of dengue in 2024 was the highest on record for this calendar year; many countries are reporting higher than usual numbers of dengue cases,” the CDC said in the alert. “In 2024, countries in the Americas reported record numbers of dengue cases, surpassing the highest number ever recorded in a single year.”
From January 1 to June 24 of this year, countries in the Americas reported more than 9.7 million cases of dengue fever, twice as many as the 4.6 million cases reported last year. During this period, a higher than expected number of dengue cases (745 cases) were identified among U.S. travelers.
Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency in March due to a rapid increase in dengue fever cases that exceeded historical figures.
The six confirmed cases of dengue fever linked to travel to Hawaii so far this year include one on Maui and five on Oahu.
According to the Ministry of Health, these residents were exposed “in various places around the world”. None were contaminated locally.
Dengue outbreaks occur in parts of Central and South America, parts of Asia, including the Philippines, the Middle East, Africa, parts of the Pacific, including American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, and parts of the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico.
According to the Department of Health, the dengue virus is transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito. Although Hawaii is home to the type of mosquito that can transmit dengue, the disease is not established there.
Symptoms include sudden fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and body aches, which usually last two to seven days. Although life-threatening illnesses can occur, most people recover within about a week.
The community is encouraged to help reduce the risk of local transmission by implementing best practices, the DOH said, including taking precautions before and during travel to a dengue risk area.
For example, travellers returning from areas where there is a risk of dengue fever should take measures to avoid mosquito bites for three weeks. If symptoms of dengue fever appear within two weeks of returning, they should consult a doctor.
Health officials also recommend eliminating mosquito breeding sites in and around homes by emptying containers of standing water.
Visit this DOH website to learn more about ways to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
