Dengue fever cases rising in popular spring break locations: CDC

As spring breakers this season continue to head south into warmer territory, mosquitoes are posing a health risk that calls for extra attention.Global cases of dengue fever are on the rise, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and it’s warning of an uptick in U.S.travelers.The agency released a Health Alert Network advisory on March 18, noting that dengue activity and transmission “remain high” in some parts of the U.S.

and globally, including the U.S.territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S.

Virgin Islands.“Spring and summer travel coincide with the peak season for dengue in many countries, increasing the risk of both travel-associated and locally acquired cases in the United States,” the CDC wrote.The CDC has marked dengue fever as a level 1 health alert, urging the public to “practice usual precautions.”This includes avoiding mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in a room that has air conditioning or screened windows.Many countries have reported a “higher-than-usual” number of dengue cases in 2024 and 2025, the CDC noted.The following countries have also reported higher-than-expected numbers of dengue cases among American travelers returning to U.S.soil: Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Iran, Mexico, Pakistan, Panama, Philippines, Saint Lucia, and Sudan.Dengue fever is a virus spread through bites from an infected mosquito. It is common in the Americas, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific Islands, among other countries, according to the CDC.In 2024, more than 13 million cases were reported in North, Central, and South America as well as in the Caribbean.Local transmission of these outbreaks was reported in California, Texas, and Florida last year.Typical symptoms include aches and pains (in the eyes, muscles, joints, or bones), nausea, vomiting, an...