Atlanta, GA – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory Tuesday, warning of a significant increase in dengue fever cases across the United States.
According to the CDC, the alert follows an unexpected surge in dengue fever reports nationwide. This year, 2,241 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., including 1,498 in Puerto Rico, which declared a public health emergency in March. The CDC noted that most cases in the mainland U.S. are linked to international travel.
Last year, the U.S. and its territories reported 3,036 dengue cases. This year, the global incidence of dengue fever has reached record highs, with over 9.7 million cases reported, particularly in Latin America. This figure is more than double the 4.6 million cases recorded in 2023.
The CDC attributes the rise in dengue infections to increasingly hot temperatures, which create ideal conditions for mosquito populations that spread the virus. The agency urges the public to take preventive measures to avoid mosquito bites and to seek medical attention if dengue fever symptoms appear.
