Texas Department of State Health Reports First Locally Acquired Case of Dengue Virus in 2024

CAMERON COUNTY, Texas - The first locally acquired case of dengue virus in 2024 was reported in a Cameron County resident, which is the southernmost county in Texas, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported in a press release on Nov. 25.

There have been 106 travel-associated dengue cases, including one death reported in Texas, according to the report, and is the highest annual case count in Texas since 2002. The department stressed that precautions should be taken to protect against mosquito bites in Texas and while traveling internationally to countries where dengue is endemic.

Since 2013, there have been 665 cases of dengue virus in Texas, including 40 cases that were acquired locally in Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Val Verde, Webb and Willacy counties, the department reported. Mosquitoes remain active in much of Texas into November and December.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention alerted health care providers about the increased risk of dengue virus infections based on an unprecedented number of cases reported globally and higher-than-expected cases among U.S. travelers. Most dengue virus cases in the U.S. have been linked to travel to places where the virus is endemic, including the South Pacific, Asia, the Caribbean, South and Central America, and Africa.

Dengue virus is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and about 25 percent of infected individuals become symptomatic, according to the report. After about three to 14 days, infected people may develop fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint pain, bone pain, pain behind the eyes and headaches. Most people recover completely within two weeks. However, about one in 20 symptomatic people develop a severe infection that can be fatal if untreated.

Source: Texas Department of Health and Human Services