Increased Risk of Dengue Virus Infections in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify healthcare providers, public health authorities and the public of an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024. In the setting of increased global and domestic incidence of dengue, healthcare providers should take steps including:

·     Maintain a high suspicion for dengue among patients with fever and recent travel (within 14 days before illness onset) to areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission.

·     Consider locally acquired dengue among patients who have signs and symptoms highly compatible with dengue in areas with competent mosquito vectors.

·     Order appropriate FDA-approved dengue tests and do not delay treatment waiting for test results to confirm dengue.

·     Know the warning signs for progression to severe dengue.

·     Recognize the critical phase of dengue. The critical phase begins when fever starts to decline and lasts for 24–48 hours. During this phase, some patients require close monitoring and may deteriorate within hours without appropriate intravenous (IV) fluid management.

·     Hospitalize patients with severe dengue or any warning sign of progression to severe dengue and follow CDC/WHO protocols for IV fluid management