Global Dengue

Level 4 - Avoid All Travel
Level 3 - Reconsider Nonessential Travel
Level 2 - Practice Enhanced Precautions
Level 1 - Practice Usual Precautions

Key points 

  • Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years.
  • Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases of the disease.
  • Dengue is spread by mosquito bites.
  • Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room or room with window screens.

What is the current situation?

The countries listed below are reporting higher than usual numbers of cases, or CDC has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries. Travelers visiting these countries may be at increased risk:

Countries are added to this list based on publicly available data. Not all countries with dengue transmission are on this list. Travelers should practice prevention measures for all areas with a risk of dengue.

Traveler Information

Clinician Information

Countries reporting higher-than-usual numbers of dengue cases
Countries reporting higher-than-usual number of dengue cases (View larger)
What is dengue?

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.

Symptoms from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.

Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.

In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death. 

*Based on ArboNET modeling which considers historical data about dengue cases among travelers to each country, from 2010 to present. It calculates the expected number of travelers with dengue returning from each country monthly to account for dengue seasonality. If the number of dengue cases in travelers is higher than expected (using an 80% threshold) for that month, dengue transmission is considered ‘high’. ArboNET is the national arboviral surveillance system that maintains data on arboviral infections among humans, presumptive viremic blood doners, veterinary disease cases, mosquitoes, dead birds, and sentinel animals. ArboNET is managed by CDC and state health departments and relies on the clinical diagnoses, testing, and reporting of arboviral diseases to public health authorities.