Dengue fever is on the rise across the globe, with more than 10.6 million cases reported in North and South America alone.
The CDC said the true number of cases is likely higher than what’s been reported. Dengue is more common in tropical regions, but it has been spreading to previously unaffected areas -- including the United States.
--> Health officials tell US doctors to be alert for dengue as cases ramp up worldwide
Here’s what people in Michigan should know:
What is dengue?
Dengue is a viral disease caused by one of the four related dengue viruses.
It is the most common arboviral disease across the globe. It is spread to people through the bites of infected Aedes species mosquitoes. It is not spread from person to person.
--> Asian tiger mosquitoes: What Michigan residents need to know about these aggressive biters
What are the symptoms of dengue?
About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick. Symptoms can be mild or severe. If severe, the virus can become life-threatening within a few hours and will require a hospital stay.
According to the CDC, symptoms of dengue usually appear within two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Symptoms usually last two to seven days and most people recover after about a week.
The most common symptoms include:
- Aches and pains (eye pain, typically behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain)
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Any warning sign
Only about one in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop severe dengue. Severe dengue can lead to shock, internal bleeding, and death.
Severe symptoms include:
- Belly pain or tenderness
- Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
- Bleeding from the nose or gums
- Vomiting blood, or blood in the stool
- Feeling extremely tired or restless
Is there treatment for dengue?
There are no antiviral medications approved to treat dengue. Instead, treatment is meant to support the person as they fight the illness.
Is dengue spreading in Michigan?
No. While there have been dengue cases in Michigan, they are all linked to travel.
CDC data shows that there were 151 dengue cases in Michigan from 2010 through 2023. The same data shows that there have been 25 cases of dengue so far in 2024.
Each case was associated with travel. That means the cases came from out of state and dengue is not spreading locally from mosquitoes in the state.
Is dengue spreading in the US?
According to the CDC, six U.S. territories and freely associated states are classified as areas with frequent or continuous dengue transmission: Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau.
There have been sporadic cases or small outbreaks in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas. There have also been confirmed local dengue transmission reported in Arizona and California over the last two years.
The CDC has more information on areas with dengue risk online.