Dengue is a mosquitoborne viral disease that can cause mild to severe illness and death. During 2010-2023, an average of 828 dengue cases (range = 202-2,055) were reported annually to ArboNET, the national arboviral surveillance system for the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. During 2024, a record 3,798 dengue cases were reported, representing a 359% increase above the 2010-2023 annual average. Among these 3,798 cases, 97.2% were associated with travel outside the reporting jurisdiction during the 2 weeks preceding symptom onset; the remaining 2.8% were locally acquired. The number of dengue cases peaked during July-September (accounting for 41.6% of total annual cases), with the highest percentage (21.8%) of cases occurring among persons aged 50-59 years. Among travel-associated cases, acquisition occurred primarily in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) (34.1%), North America (Mexico and the United States) (24.3%), and Central America (15.6%); Hispanic or Latino persons accounted for 57.5% of all cases. Among all patients, 36.1% required hospitalization, 2.8% of cases were severe, and six (0.2%) patients died. Among 1,204 patients with known dengue virus (DENV) serotype, DENV-3 was the most commonly reported (54.8%) among the four DENV serotypes. These findings underscore the urgent need for enhanced prevention strategies, clinical awareness, and tailored public health messaging for travelers to areas where dengue is endemic.
Kiplagat et al. (Thu,) studied this question.