Dengue fever is on the rise worldwide

Aedes albopictus also can vector encephalitis, yellow fever and dog heartworm. PHOTO:
CDC/James D. Gathany

On June 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory regarding an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024. This is in line with dengue reported worldwide, as the CDC reports it’s been the highest on record for this calendar year.

From Jan. 1 to June 24, 2024, per the advisory, “countries in the Americas reported more than 9.7 million dengue cases, twice as many as in all of 2023 (4.6 million cases).” In the U.S. specifically, the majority of cases were reported in Florida, followed by Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

At press time, domestic cases were mostly people who returned to the U.S. after traveling to other countries. In July, an American Medical Association (AMA) Update video podcast, however, stated that “public health officials are expecting to see the virus in more temperate regions, including the southern-most portions of the United States. The mosquito(es) responsible for dengue (are) found in several states, including Texas, Florida and California. So far this year, Florida has already reported 10 cases from local spread and that is across four different counties.”

What does this mean for pest management professionals? Three big things to keep in mind, especially if you’re treating for the two species primarily responsible for transmitting dengue, yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) and Asian tiger mosquitoes (A. albopictus):

1. Be aware of any symptoms among yourself or any employees who may have been in an area where mosquitoes can transmit dengue. The CDC reports that symptoms can begin after an incubation of anywhere from three to 10 days, and present as “fever accompanied by non-specific signs and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint pain, bone pain, pain behind the eyes, headache, or low white blood cell counts.” The AMA Update video podcast notes that “three out of every four cases are mild or asymptomatic,” making it hard to diagnose.
2. Ensure timely reporting of dengue cases to public health authorities, so that they can help prevent a wider outbreak.
3. Promote mosquito bite prevention measures among people living in or visiting areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission.

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from Pest Management Professional https://www.mypmp.net/2024/08/06/dengue-fever-is-on-the-rise-worldwide/
Sacramento CA