Dengue Fact Sheet

State of California California Department of Public Health
Health and Human Services Agency Division of Communicable Disease Control
Dengue Fact Sheet

What is dengue?
Dengue (den-gee) is a disease caused by any one of four closely related dengue
viruses that are spread by mosquitoes. The mosquitoes that spread dengue (specifically
Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, also called “Aedes mosquitoes”) live in many
parts of the world. About 100 million people get sick with dengue in the world every
year.
Where does dengue occur?

Dengue is common in many tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, where Aedes
mosquitoes thrive. These areas include parts of Africa, the Middle East, India,
Southeast Asia, South America, Central America, and North America (specifically
Mexico). According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
almost half of the world’s population, about 4 billion people, live in areas with risk of
dengue.
Dengue is not common in the United States, but local outbreaks have been reported in
some states where Aedes mosquitoes are found, including parts of southern Texas,
southern Florida, and Hawaii. Dengue is common in many U.S. territories, including
Puerto Rico and American Samoa. In California, cases of dengue are reported each
year in people who have traveled to areas of the world where dengue is common, but at
this time, dengue is not actively spread by mosquitoes in California.
How do people get dengue?

People get dengue from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Dengue virus cannot
spread directly from person to person. An Aedes mosquito becomes infected when it
bites a person who has dengue virus in their blood. About a week after a mosquito bites
an infected person, the mosquito is able to transmit the virus to other people when it
bites.
The mosquitoes that spread dengue, Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) and Aedes
albopictus (Asian tiger mosquito), are not native to (or naturally found in) California, but
they have been introduced to the state and are now found in multiple counties in
California. At this time, there is no active, ongoing local transmission of dengue in
California, which means Aedes mosquitoes in California do not currently carry the
dengue virus and spread it to people in California. But it is possible for Aedes
mosquitoes in California to spread dengue in the future under the right conditions.
What are the symptoms of dengue?

Not everyone who is infected with dengue virus from a mosquito bite gets sick. About
3 out of every 4 people who are infected never develop any symptoms. If a person does
get sick with dengue, their symptoms can be mild or severe.
Mild Dengue (or “Dengue Fever”)
The most common symptoms of dengue fever include fever and any of the
following:
• Severe headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Joint pain
• Muscle and bone pain
• Rash
• Bruising on the skin
Symptoms of dengue fever usually last 2-7 days. Most people get better in about a
week.
Severe Dengue
Severe dengue usually starts with fever and other mild symptoms of dengue fever.
However, once the fever starts to go away, signs and symptoms of severe dengue
develop within a few hours. The warning signs of severe dengue include:
• Bleeding from the nose or mouth (gums)
• Severe pain in the stomach or abdomen
• Vomiting (at least 3 times in 24 hours)
• Vomiting blood or blood in the stool
Severe dengue causes blood vessels in a person’s body to leak, causing swelling
and fluid build-up in the stomach and around the lungs. If not treated, severe dengue
can result in death. Severe dengue is a medical emergency. If you have had
dengue once before, you are more likely to develop severe dengue.
If you think you have severe dengue or any warning signs of severe dengue, go
to the emergency room immediately. Be sure to tell the doctor or healthcare provider
if you have traveled recently or if you have had dengue before. If you remember being
bitten by mosquitoes recently, let your doctor know.
How is dengue treated?

There is no specific treatment for dengue. If you have mild symptoms of dengue, you
can treat the symptoms and see a healthcare provider:
• Rest as much as possible
• Drink plenty of fluids (such as water or drinks with added electrolytes) to stay
hydrated
• Take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® *) to control fever and pain
o Do not take ibuprofen or aspirin because these medicines can increase
your risk of bleeding
Severe dengue may require hospitalization and intensive medical care.
* Use of this product name does not imply commercial endorsement by the California
Department of Public Health.
2
If a person has had dengue before, can they get it again?
Yes. There are four closely-related viruses that can cause dengue (DENV-1, DENV-2,
DENV-3, and DENV-4). For this reason, a person can get dengue as many as four
times in their life. People who have had dengue once before are more likely to get
severe dengue if infected again.
How can I help prevent dengue?

The best way to prevent dengue is to prevent mosquito bites, especially when traveling
in tropical places or in nearby areas, including Mexico. People who travel to areas
where dengue is found should use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered
repellent on clothes and exposed skin to prevent mosquito bites. Other ways to help
prevent mosquito bites while traveling or staying in areas where dengue is found
include:
• Wearing long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin

• Using air conditioning (if available) or screens on windows and doors to keep
mosquitoes out of places where you are staying
• Sleeping under a mosquito bed net
If you have dengue or have recently traveled to an area with dengue, it’s also important
to protect your community when you return home. Aedes mosquitoes in California can
spread dengue if they bite someone that is infected, so it’s important to use mosquito
repellent and prevent mosquito bites for three weeks after you return home so you
don’t spread dengue to mosquitoes in your community.
You can also help prevent the spread of dengue by preventing the spread of Aedes
mosquitoes in California. Mosquitoes lay eggs and develop in standing water – you can
keep mosquitoes from breeding and biting by removing any standing water in and
around your home. Learn more about mosquito control: CDC Controlling Mosquitoes at
Home.
Where can I find more information about dengue?

• California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Dengue webpage
(https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Dengue.aspx)
• CDPH Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus webpage
(https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Aedes-aegypti-and-
Aedes-albopictus-mosquitoes.aspx)
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dengue website
(http://www.cdc.gov/dengue/)
• World Health Organization Dengue and Severe Dengue webpage
(https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-severe-dengue)
Updated October 2023

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State of California California Department of Public Health

Health and Human Services Agency Division of Communicable Disease Control

Dengue Fact Sheet

Where does dengue occur?

How do people get dengue?

What are the symptoms of dengue?

How is dengue treated?

Severe dengue may require hospitalization and intensive medical care.

How can I help prevent dengue?

• Wearing long sleeves and pants to cover exposed skin

Where can I find more information about dengue?

Updated October 2023

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