Texas confirms 10 cases of dengue amid global surge

Texas has confirmed 10 cases of dengue fever as U.S. health officials urge caution against the mosquito-borne disease amid a historic global surge this summer.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said all 10 cases so far in 2024 came from international travel but warned that a small number of people in recent years have gotten sick from mosquitoes in southern Texas. The department also noted that heavy, widespread rainfall from Hurricane Beryl earlier this month left behind standing water that created conditions for mosquitoes to multiply and urged people working on storm cleanup to protect themselves from insect bites.

“Unfortunately, many mosquitoes in Texas are capable of spreading diseases, such as West Nile and dengue. These diseases are often mild, but some people will develop severe illness,” said Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the state health department. “So, it is important for Texans to know how to protect themselves against mosquito bites.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory earlier this summer about the spread, noting globally reported cases have reached the highest total on record in 2024.

A record-high 2,559 cases of dengue have been reported across 45 U.S. states and territories so far in 2024, including 218 in Florida, 143 in New York and 40 in California, according to the CDC. Puerto Rico declared a public health emergency after 1,498 cases of dengue were reported. The CDC warns cases are likely to rise as the world continues to heat up.

Dengue across the U.S.

The national number of dengue infections has already surpassed last year's total of 1,848 cases, which was the highest tally since at least 2010, according to the CDC. Cases drastically fell in the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic but have since resurged. The CDC warns hot, wet weather could fuel breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes, especially as the summer season overlaps with heightened U.S. travel abroad.

Across the globe, more than 10 million dengue cases and 5,000 deaths have been reported from 80 countries and territories since the beginning of 2024, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Countries in the Americas have accounted for most of the reported cases at 9.7 million so far this year, according to CDC data, twice as many as the 4.6 million cases reported in 2023.

Just in Texas, the health department said 79 cases of dengue swept the state last year, including one locally acquired case in Val Verde County. Department spokesperson Lara Anton confirmed to USA TODAY that no related deaths were reported in 2023.

Dengue signs and safety tips

About 1 in 4 people infected with dengue gets sick, according to the CDC. Severe cases can be life-threatening within hours and require hospital care, and people can get sick within two weeks of a bite from an infected mosquito.

Dengue can cause fever, nausea, vomiting, headaches and rashes. It can also cause pain in the eyes, joints, bones and muscles.

About 1 in 20 cases are severe, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death. Symptoms can become severe within hours.

Warning signs of severe dengue usually begin within 24 to 48 hours after the fever has gone away. The CDC urges people to immediately go to a hospital if they have the following symptoms:

• Belly pain or tenderness

• Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)

• Bleeding from the nose or gums

• Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool

• Feeling extremely tired or restless

The CDC says the best way to prevent dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites:

• Use insect repellent

• Wear loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants

• Use air conditioning and window screens to prevent mosquito bites indoors

• Dump out containers of water near your home to eliminate breeding grounds

• Be vigilant if you plan to travel to an area experiencing a dengue outbreak

• Seek medical care if you have symptoms of dengue and have recently traveled to an area with an outbreak

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas confirms dengue fever cases amid global surge