Texas Confirmed Locally-acquired Dengue Case

While the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently confirmed Dengue viruses are a risk in many parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, the state of Texas could be added to the list.

As of early May 2023, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported its initial locally-acquired Dengue patient.

This Dengue case was reported in Dallas, but the person was infected in Val Verde County, which is west of San Antonio.

Historically, Texas has reported very few Dengue cases.

Dengue is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, a domestic, day-biting mosquito found in Texas.

There are four types of dengue viruses belonging to a family of viruses which include St Louis encephalitis virus, West Nile virus, and yellow fever virus, And dengue hemorrhagic fever can be fatal if untreated, says DSHS.

To alert travelers of potential health risks, the CDC issued Dengue advisories for the Americas, including the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific Islands, in 2023.

As of early May, Florida had reported 67 travel-associated and two locally acquired dengue cases in 2023.

And in Puerto Rico, 95 probable dengue cases have been confirmed.

From a prevention perspective, there are approved Dengue vaccines. However, access to these vaccines is limited in the U.S.