Surge in Dengue Cases
Nearly 200 individuals have been infected with dengue in New York and New Jersey this year, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The breakdown includes 143 cases in New York and 41 in New Jersey, marking a significant rise in a region where dengue is typically rare.
Origins of the outbreak
“Dengue transmission is typically common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world,” the CDC explains. The sudden appearance of cases in the Tri-State area has been linked to travelers. Dr. Sharon Noachman, a pediatric infectious disease expert at Stony Brook Hospital, clarified, “These are travelers. Patients who live in New York and went on vacation got their mosquito bites there and brought their virus home.”
This surge in the Northeast mirrors a national trend. Over 2,500 people in the U.S. have contracted dengue this year, approximately five times the number from the same period last year. Puerto Rico accounts for the majority, with over 1,700 cases leading to a public health emergency declaration in March.
CDC health alert
Last month, the CDC issued a health alert, warning healthcare providers about the heightened risk of dengue infection. The CDC reports that globally, new dengue cases have reached record highs.
Dengue is spread by a type of warm-weather mosquito whose geographic range is expanding due to climate change.
Symptoms of dengue
Dengue typically causes fever, aches, pains, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Symptoms appear within two weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito and usually last 2-7 days. Most people recover in about a week.
Prevention of dengue
There is no widely available treatment for dengue. Preventing mosquito bites is the best defense. The CDC advises anyone traveling to tropical locations such as Puerto Rico or the Florida Keys to use insect repellant or wear protective clothing.
Treatment of dengue
“Just like a lot of viral infections, we don’t have a treatment, a lot of it is supportive care,” said Dr. Edward Liu, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. He emphasized the importance of travel history in diagnosis, adding, “And it can be tricky to make the diagnosis, so travel becomes super important as important as the lab work is.”
Advice for travelers
So far, dengue-carrying mosquitoes have not been detected in the Tri-State area. However, the rising number of cases highlights the need for vigilance and preventive measures, especially for those traveling to dengue-endemic regions.