Three locally acquired cases of dengue have been reported in Los Angeles County.
Health officials announced two cases under investigation Wednesday, just over a week after confirming the first locally acquired case of the year. It is only the second year in which locally acquired cases have been reported in California.
The patients had no history of traveling to areas where dengue is endemic, according to public health officials. The Aedes mosquitoes that spread dengue are not native to California but are found in many urban areas.
“The recent discovery of dengue cases in Baldwin Park underscores the need for vigilance and proactive measures,” Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis, M.D., M.P.H., said in a news release.
California is one of four U.S. jurisdictions with a locally acquired dengue case this year. Most of the 3,085 locally acquired cases have been in Puerto Rico, but there also have been locally acquired cases in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The U.S. also has had 1,592 travel-associated cases in 50 jurisdictions this year.
About one-quarter of the U.S. cases have been among adolescents ages 11-19 years, the highest percentage of any age group, according to CDC data.
Dengue symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint pain, bone pain, pain behind the eyes, headache or low white blood cell counts. Signs of severe dengue can include abdominal pain; persistent vomiting; bleeding from the nose or gums; vomiting blood or blood in the stool; and feeling extremely tired or restless.
Across all ages, about 45% of people in the U.S. have been hospitalized, 40% have not and 15% had an unknown hospitalization status. About 4% of cases have been classified as severe dengue.
The CDC released a health advisory on dengue in June, at which point dengue cases were the highest on record for the calendar year globally. Across the Americas, there have been more than 11.7 million cases this year, more than double last year.
The CDC recommends clinicians watch for patients with dengue symptoms taking into account their time spent in areas with dengue transmission or areas with Aedes mosquitoes. They should order appropriate diagnostic tests and should not delay treatment while waiting for results. Patients with severe dengue or warning signs should be hospitalized and protocols for IV fluid management should be followed. Cases should be reported to public health authorities.
Children ages 9-16 years living in an area where dengue is endemic and who have had a previous dengue infection can be vaccinated with Dengvaxia vaccine, which is safe and effective. While it is being discontinued due to low demand, it will be available until doses expire in 2026. No vaccines are recommended for travelers, adults or people without a previous dengue infection.
People can protect themselves from dengue by using mosquito repellents approved by the Environmental Protection Agency; wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved pants and shirts; using air conditioning and window screens; dumping and draining containers holding water; and seeking medical care if they have symptoms.
Resources
- CDC health advisory on dengue
- CDC dengue website
- Information on dengue from the AAP Red Book
- Information for parents from HealthyChildren.org on dengue
