Dengue

Page originally published 7/25/2024. Page last updated 3/26/2025.

Close-up photo of Aedes mosquito (small, dark in color, and white markings on bodies and legs).

Dengue (den-gee) is a virus spread by infected Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), which live in many parts of the world, including the United States, and in California and San Diego County.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost half of the world’s population, 4 billion people, live in dengue-risk areas. areas where dengue infection occurs. In San Diego County, dengue cases are reported every year in travelers returning from other parts of the world where dengue is common.

On this page:

Prevention
Transmission (Spread)
Symptoms
Diagnosis and Treatment
Resources
Local Situation
- 2024 Dengue Cases

Prevention

The best way to prevent dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites.

Plan for Travel: Before your trip
- Check country-specific travel recommendations, health notices, and warnings.
- Visit a travel clinic, or your doctor, for medical care before you travel.
- Pack insect repellent.
- Pack acetaminophen in your first aid kit. This medication can be used to manage fever and body pain if you get dengue.

During your stay
- Follow steps to prevent mosquito bites to protect yourself and your family.
- Stay in places with air conditioning or window and door screens, when possible.
- Use a bed net if air conditioned or screened rooms are not available or if sleeping outdoors.
- See a healthcare provider if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue.

After your trip
- Even if you do not feel sick, if you have traveled to a place with dengue risk, protect yourself from mosquito bites for 3 weeks. This prevents infected mosquitoes from spreading the virus to others.
- See a doctor if you develop a fever or have symptoms of dengue. Tell your doctor about your travel.

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Transmission (Spread)

People get dengue from the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.

Dengue virus is not spread from person to person.
People can get infected with dengue more than once in their life.

In a small number of cases, dengue can spread:

Through exposure in a laboratory or healthcare setting;
From mother to baby during pregnancy, delivery, or breast feeding;
Blood transfusions, organ transplants, and needlestick injuries. Blood banks and organ transplant centers routinely test for dengue to prevent spreading the infection.

After getting bitten by a mosquito with dengue virus, symptoms may develop within 2 weeks.

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Symptoms

About 1 in 4 people infected with dengue virus will get sick.

For people who get sick, symptoms can be mild or severe.
Illness from dengue virus typically lasts 2-7 days.
Most people recover after about one week.

The most common symptom of dengue is fever. Other symptoms include:

Headache;
Pain behind the eyes;
Muscle, joint, or bone pain;
Nausea;
Vomiting; and/or
Rash.

About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue can get severe dengue. Severe dengue is a medical emergency. It can quickly lead to shock, internal bleeding, or death. Go to a clinic or emergency room immediately if you or a family member have:

Stomach pain or tenderness;
Vomiting (3 or more times in 24 hours);
Bleeding from the nose or gums;
Blood in vomit or stool (poop), and/or
Feeling extremely tired or restless.

These warning signs usually begin 24-48 hours after the fever has gone away. People who have had dengue before are at greater risk of severe dengue illness

For infants, watch for signs of dehydration, such as peeing less often; a dry mouth, tongue, or lips; few or no tears when crying; and sunken soft spots of the head or eyes. If these symptoms appear, contact your child’s doctor right away. If your baby shows severe dehydration, which includes sleepiness or low on energy; sunken eyes; cold or discolored hands or feet; and only peeing once or twice a day, go to an urgent care or emergency room immediately.

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Diagnosis and Treatment

If you think you may have dengue, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may:

Ask about your signs and symptoms,
Ask you if you traveled and were bitten by mosquitoes, and
Take a blood sample to be tested.

There are no antiviral medicines available to treat dengue. Antibiotics do not work against viruses. Getting plenty of rest, drinking fluids, and taking over-the-counter pain medications may relieve some symptoms. In severe cases, people may need to be hospitalized for extra care.