The CDC has issued an urgent dengue fever warning after 41 travelers in New Jersey were sickened with the mosquito-transmitted virus.
Cases of dengue are currently at an all-time high across North, Central, and South America, the CDC said.
The 41 New Jersey residents were infected while traveling as of July 2, the CDC said. No cases of dengue have been locally transmitted in the state.
According to CDC data, those travelers came from 15 different counties in New Jersey, with Bergen County seeing the most cases at eight travelers sickened.
The CDC did not say which country the travelers had most recently visited.
Meanwhile, Florida has seen 210 total cases of dengue fever this year, seven of which are reported to be locally transmitted. Most of those cases were reported in Miami-Dade County.
Over 1,580 cases have been reported in Puerto Rico, and 10 cases were confirmed in the US Virgin Islands.
In the first half of 2024, more than 9.7 million cases have been reported across North, Central, and South America, according to the CDC. US travelers accounted for more than 750 of those cases.
Dengue is caused by a virus spread by a type of warm weather mosquito that is expanding its geographic reach because of climate change, experts say.
Many infected people don’t get sick, but some experience headache, fever and flu-like symptoms. Severe cases can involve cause serious bleeding, shock and death. Repeated infections can be especially dangerous.
Because there are no approved medications for dengue, the best way to avoid contracting the virus is by preventing mosquito bites.
Experts recommend wearing bug spray, keeping skin covered, and avoiding areas where mosquitoes are known to swarm.
