CDC Issues Dengue Warning As 48 CA Travelers Sickened

CALIFORNIA — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a new warning for the Americas as dengue cases reached an all-time high. So far this year, 48 people have been sickened by the virus in California.

Before 2023, cases of dengue fever in California were only ever linked to international travelers returning from countries where Dengue was found. For the first time in the state's history, two locally-acquired Dengue cases were recorded in Southern California.

By the end of 2023, 251 cases of dengue infections were recorded in the Golden State, nearly double the amount recorded in 2022.

As of July 1, all dengue cases in California were reported in residents who were traveling, according to the CDC. No cases have been locally transmitted.

So far this year, cases have been recorded in 16 different counties in California. Orange County had the most cases, with 13 travelers sickened with the virus.

Each year, up to 400 million people are infected by one of four dengue viruses, according to the CDC. Approximately 100 million people get sick from infection, and 40,000 die from severe dengue.

In its most recent warning, the CDC said countries in the Americas reported more than 9.7 million
dengue cases, twice as many as the 4.6 million cases reported in 2023.

People can be infected with the virus from a newly arrived Aedes aegypti, also known as an ankle-biter mosquito. Since they were first detected in California over the last decade, they've entrenched themselves statewide.

Atypical of other mosquitos that usually go for just one bite at dawn or dusk, Aedes mosquitos are aggressive and love to bite people during the day, Executive Director of Los Angeles County West Vector Control Aaron Arugay told Patch in October.

These mosquitos breed quicker in smaller containers than others. Their eggs can be found in any container with standing water, even something as tiny as a bottlecap.

"Anything that can hold water could be a breeding ground for the mosquitos," Arugay said. "A person could have 25 planters in their backyards and every single saucer could hold these mosquitos."

Symptoms of dengue include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms usually last two to seven days and most people recover after about a week, though severe and life-threatening illness can occur, the CDC said.

There are no medicines or vaccines to prevent dengue fever, and most treatment includes rest, fluids and monitoring for early signs.