10th Dengue Case Reported in Texas

Texas public health officials announced today that they are urging Texans to protect against mosquito bites after confirming ten travel-associated dengue cases for 2024.

As of July 11, 2024, all of the dengue cases reported in Texas this year were acquired while traveling internationally.

However, a small number of dengue cases have been acquired from mosquito bites in southern Texas in recent years. Mosquitoes that carry the dengue virus are found in both Mexico and Texas.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed the new dengue cases were reported in Collin, Dallas, Fort Bend, McMullen, Montgomery, and Travis counties.

In 2023, there were 79 cases of dengue in Texas, including one locally acquired case in Val Verde County.

To the south of Texas, Mexico has reported about 1,000 dengue cases in 2024. In 2023, Mexico reported over 277,000 dengue cases.

“Unfortunately, many mosquitoes in Texas can spread diseases, such as West Nile and dengue. These diseases are often mild, but some people will develop severe illness,” said DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford, MD, MPH, in a press release.

According to DSHS, about 25% of dengue infections become symptomatic.

Most people recover completely within two weeks. However, about one in 20 symptomatic people develop a severe infection called Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever that can be fatal if untreated.

From a prevention perspective, two dengue vaccines are used in various countries but not in the U.S. as of July 11, 2024.