9th Local Dengue Case in L.A. Reported

While the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) says locally acquired dengue is rare in LA County, this year's infections will differ from 2023.

Last year, only two cases of locally acquired dengue were identified in Long Beach and Pasadena.

As of October 24, 2024, LACDPH has confirmed 9 cases of locally acquired dengue. Before their symptoms, these San Gabriel Valley residents had no history of travel to places where dengue is common.

 These people live in Baldwin Park (6), Panorama City (1), and El Monte (2).

Since residents of LA County travel year-round, cases can occur at any time of year.

Most dengue cases in LA County involve traveling to countries where dengue outbreaks occur, such as the Caribbean (Puerto Rico), Central and South America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands. 

This year, 123 travel-related dengue cases have been confirmed in LA County, compared with 75 cases reported in LA County in 2023.

To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC reissued a Global Travel Health Notice on October 15, 2024, regarding Dengue outbreaks in 27 countries.

Dengue is a vaccine-preventable disease. However, protective vaccines will be unavailable in the U.S. in 2024.