United States – On Tuesday, the CDC released a health advisory regarding the level of alerts of DENV in the U. S. this year as global cases keep rising.
Record-Breaking Cases in the Americas
The Americas set a record for the number of new cases within a month, beating the full-year record in under six months. Many such cases have occurred since the beginning of 2024, totaling 9.7 million dengue cases and more than twice the total number of cases recorded annually in 2023, which was 4.6 million.
The virus is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito, which is found in warm regions; it has been moving to new regions due to a changing climate that allows warmer temperatures in previously temperate regions. According to health officials, the increased number of cases, which is still early in the year, has raised questions about the spread of the virus, as reported by The Hills.
Transmission occurs most frequently in six of the U.S. territories and freely associated states and is grouped as those with frequent or contiguous dengue transmission. Continental states have not seen nearly as much local transmission as the territories…[however], local transmission in at least some contiguous states has recently begun to deteriorate as the climate has warmed.
Impact on US Territories and States
This year, the high rate of contagion, Puerto Rico has declared a recent public health emergency accruing 1,498 cases since the beginning of this year, of which as many as 745 cases were detected in the United States travelers. Another emergency was declared in December by the World Health Organization as well.
Cases in Various States
Other states that have registered incidences more than the projected rate since January include Florida at 197, New York at 134, Massachusetts at 50 cases, California at 40 cases, Colorado recorded 14 cases, Arizona with 9 cases, and the District of Columbia registered 8 cases, among others.
On Tuesday, the CDC issued a health advisory to alert healthcare providers of the infection, particularly in individuals who have been to or exposed to regions with elevated transmission rates. They should place appropriate diagnostic assessments if necessary, report new cases to public health departments on time, and discourage the public from mosquito practices such as biting them, according to the advisory.
Majority of infections do not cause serious manifestations in humans, although about a quarter of people with influenza-like illness experience symptoms. Such cases may be asymptomatic or manifest with minimal to severe involvement characterized by fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, skin rash, myalgias and arthralgias, and mild coagulopathy.
According to the findings, severe dengue progresses to affect only one in every twenty individuals presenting with symptoms. It usually requires hospitalization and may occur in the span of just a few hours. In certain circumstances, it may cause hemorrhage or shock, organ failure, and death, as reported by The Hills.
CDC Recommendations
CDC categorizes Global Dengue as level 1 out of four risk levels, which means travelers should guard their health using their usual precautions. Recommendations by CDC include EPA-approved repellent when traveling to high-risk areas or use of the air-conditioned or screen-windowed rooms.