U.S. Reissued Dengue Outbreak Travel Health Notice

As the global outbreak of the dengue virus continues to impact over 100 countries in late 2023, the Region of the Americas was recently issued an updated Travel Health Advisory.

On November 27, 2023, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reissued its Level 1- Practice Usual Precautions, confirming dengue is a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, with some countries reporting increased numbers of cases of the mosquito-transmitted disease.

The CDC says travelers visiting these outbreak countries may be at increased risk of contracting dengue: Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica,  Cuba,  Guadeloupe,  Guatemala, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Panama, and Peru.

Because mosquito bites spread dengue, all travelers to outbreak areas are at risk. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop, with illness generally lasting less than a week.

In the United States, data published by the CDC indicates that 48 jurisdictions have reported about 1,874 dengue cases in 2023.

Puerto Rico's Week #44 report indicates about 864 probable dengue cases in 2023.

As of November 25, 2023, the Florida Health Department reported 477 travel-associated dengue cases, most from Cuba (283), and 154 locally acquired dengue cases (Miami-Dade County) confirmed as week #47.

Additionally, 164 dengue cases were confirmed in New York, and California reported 84 dengue cases this year.

From a prevention perspective, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends dengue vaccination for persons living or visiting dengue-risk areas.

Since October 30, 2022, two dengue vaccines have been authorized in various countries.

In October 2023, the WHO recommended using the QDENGA® (TAK-003) Dengue Tetravalent Vaccine.