US States Report 3,798 Dengue Cases in 2024 as Travel-Linked Infections Jump 359%
Updated
Updated · CDC · May 13
US States Report 3,798 Dengue Cases in 2024 as Travel-Linked Infections Jump 359%
1 articles · Updated · CDC · May 13
A record 3,798 dengue cases were reported in U.S. states and Washington, D.C., in 2024, far above the 2010–2023 annual average of 828.
Travel drove the surge: 97.2% of cases were linked to trips outside the reporting jurisdiction, while 105 cases were locally acquired in Florida, California and Texas.
Florida logged 1,044 cases—the most of any state and an incidence of 4.47 per 100,000—followed by California with 720, New York with 338 and Texas with 241.
Illness was often serious, with 36.1% of patients hospitalized, 2.8% classified as severe dengue and six deaths reported; among typed cases, DENV-3 accounted for 54.8%.
CDC tied the increase to the global dengue wave of 2024, when cases reached 14.1 million worldwide, and warned that widespread Aedes mosquitoes in the U.S. raise the risk of further local transmission.
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Dengue Hits Record Highs in the US in 2024: Why It Happened and What Comes Next
Overview
In 2024, the United States faced an unprecedented surge in dengue cases, driven by the detection of all four dengue virus serotypes among returning travelers. This broad spectrum of circulating serotypes, including the introduction of new ones, led to larger and more frequent outbreaks. Individuals with prior dengue exposure were at higher risk for severe illness, as new serotypes increased the chance of more serious clinical outcomes. The shift in dominant serotypes over the year highlighted the dynamic nature of the outbreak, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, prevention, and response strategies to address this growing public health threat.