Dengue cases surge in US, CDC issues health alert

USA—The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health advisory, alerting healthcare providers and the public about an unexpected increase in dengue virus infections across the country.

According to the CDC health advisory, a “higher-than-expected” number of dengue cases—totaling 2,241—were reported in the United States from January 1 to June 24 this year.

Significantly, this number includes 1,498 cases in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico.

So far this year, 745 cases have been identified among U.S. travelers.

In response to the alarming rise in dengue cases, Puerto Rico public health authorities declared a public health emergency in March.

This declaration was made during the low dengue season, highlighting the severity of the situation.

Last year, the United States reported a total of 3,036 dengue cases. These included 1,829 travel-associated cases and 1,207 locally acquired cases, according to CDC data.

The comparison between last year and this year indicates a troubling trend, with the number of cases already nearing last year’s total halfway through 2024.

Moreover, the global incidence of dengue infections has reached the highest levels on record this year.

 Many countries are reporting higher-than-usual numbers of dengue cases.

In particular, countries in the Americas have experienced a record-breaking number of dengue cases, surpassing the highest numbers ever recorded in a single year.

From January 1 to June 24, countries in the Americas reported more than 9.7 million dengue cases.

This figure is twice as many as those reported in all of 2023, which saw 4.6 million cases.

The dramatic increase in dengue cases worldwide underscores the need for vigilant monitoring and proactive measures to control the spread of the virus.

Common symptoms of dengue infection include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, body pain, headache, and low white blood cell counts.

Currently, there are no antiviral medications approved to treat dengue, making appropriate triage, management, and follow-up critical interventions to reduce dengue morbidity and mortality.

The CDC alert advises healthcare providers to promptly report any dengue cases to public health authorities.

In addition, the public is strongly encouraged to take preventive measures against mosquito bites and to control mosquitoes both indoors and outdoors at home.

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