As spring break travelers flock to warmer destinations, there’s a growing concern about mosquitoes and the health risks they bring. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has noted a rise in global dengue fever cases and has issued a warning about the increased risk for U.S. travelers. On March 18, the CDC released a Health Alert Network advisory, highlighting that dengue activity and transmission “remain high” in some parts of the United States and around the world, including places like Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The CDC points out that the times when people travel in the spring and summer align with the peak dengue season in many countries. This raises the risk of travelers both bringing the illness back home and catching it here in the U.S. The CDC has classified dengue fever as a level 1 health alert, urging folks to “practice usual precautions.” This means taking steps to avoid mosquito bites, such as using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants outside, and staying in rooms with air conditioning or screened windows.
Countries around the world, like Brazil, Burkina Faso, and Colombia, have reported “higher-than-usual” numbers of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025. These cases include American travelers who are returning home after contracting the virus abroad. Dengue fever, a virus spread through mosquito bites, is prevalent in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Islands.
In 2024, over 13 million cases were reported across North, Central, and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The CDC documented local transmission of dengue fever in states like California, Texas, and Florida last year. Typical symptoms include eye, muscle, joint, or bone pain, nausea, vomiting, and rash, which generally appear within two weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito.
Most people recover from these symptoms within two to seven days. Dr. Mark Fischer, a regional medical director at International SOS, explained to Fox News Digital that while dengue fever is often mild, it can become severe, leading to headaches, joint pain, fever, abdominal pain, and even death. There is currently no medication to treat dengue, according to the CDC.
Infected individuals are advised to rest, use acetaminophen for pain and fever, stay hydrated, and consult a doctor. There is, however, a vaccine for U.S. children aged 9 to 16 who have previously tested positive for dengue and live in areas where the infection is common. It’s important for travelers to take precautions and stay informed to protect themselves and others from this mosquito-borne illness.
1 Comment
People are stupid. When the Covid scamdemic was raging, people still gathered at sports events, amusement parks, cruise ships, beaches. They would rather go out and mingle with strangers than stay inside ’till the threat passed. Some dropped over dead. Most survived but for how long? My neighbors were vaxxed several times and they STILL keep getting sick. What does that tell you? I never got vaxxed and I haven’t been sick at all. I hate leaving the house and I don’t go out unless I absolutely have to.
The ocean is a toilet, insects carry diseases but these people traipse around like nothing is going on. With all the illegal-alien invaders that came into this country, who brought in with them illnesses we almost got rid of completely, people still go out like nothing is going on.