Time: 2024-06-27
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently issued a warning regarding the increased risk of dengue virus infections in the Americas. According to the CDC, there have been more than 9.7 million cases of dengue reported in the Americas from January 1 to June 24 of this year. This number is more than double the 4.6 million infections recorded throughout 2023.
The global incidence of dengue in 2024 has been the highest on record for this calendar year, with many countries reporting higher-than-usual case numbers. The Americas have reported a record-breaking number of dengue cases in 2024, surpassing the highest number ever recorded in a single year. The CDC describes the dengue virus as the most common mosquito-borne disease in the world.
In the United States, Florida has reported the highest number of dengue cases so far this year, followed by New York, Massachusetts, and California. The CDC notes that six U.S. territories and freely associated states are classified as areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission.
One in every four dengue infections are symptomatic, with effects such as fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint pain, and more. Severe disease, including severe bleeding, shock, or respiratory distress, can develop in 1 in 20 people with symptomatic dengue. Infants under the age of one, pregnant women, and adults over the age of 65 are at an increased risk of severe dengue.
Health officials in Puerto Rico have declared dengue fever a public health emergency. The CDC advises infected individuals to rest, take acetaminophen for pain and fever, stay hydrated, and seek medical attention. Currently, there is no specific medication to treat dengue, so supportive care is recommended. It is important to note that transmission of dengue peaks during the warmer and wetter months in many tropical and subtropical regions.
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