Potentially deadly dengue virus on the rise. How many cases are in NC, Mecklenburg County?
Cases of a potentially deadly virus spread by mosquitoes are on the rise in Mecklenburg County this year, and health officials are warning of a “record-breaking” number of cases worldwide.
Six cases of dengue have been reported in Mecklenburg County — one in January, three in April and two in May — according to Mecklenburg County Public Health. That’s up from no cases in 2023 and a three-year average of one case annually, health department data show. None of the six cases were infected by local mosquitoes.
North Carolina is also on pace to have more cases year-over-year in 2024.
Dengue, sometimes referred to as dengue fever, is a virus that’s spread to people when they’re bit by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Although some dengue infections are mild, public health officials warn severe infection requires immediate medical attention and can be deadly.
The uptick in cases in the Charlotte-area is in line with national and international trends.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health advisory in late June warning of an “increased risk” of dengue in the U.S. This year has been “the highest on record” for cases worldwide, the advisory said, with twice as many cases already reported in the Americas so far in 2024 compared to all of 2023.
Is dengue in North Carolina?
The CDC reports 16 reported cases of dengue in North Carolina so far in 2024. A total of 28 cases were confirmed statewide in all of 2023.
All of Mecklenburg County’s 2024 cases were traced to travel, health department spokeswoman Suzette Nedrich said. North Carolina’s 16 cases were travel-related too, according to CDC data.
Dengue is most common in Central and South America, the Caribbean, southeast Asia and the Pacific islands, according to the CDC.
How to prevent the spread of dengue
The CDC recommends travelers pack high-quality insect repellent and acetaminophen if going to high-risk areas for dengue and stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to protect against mosquito bites. One should sleep with a bed net if those amenities aren’t available or if sleeping outdoors.
Mecklenburg County also urges people to protect against mosquitoes at home or while traveling by:
Using insect repellent
Wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants
Taking steps to control mosquitoes around your home.
Dengue symptoms
Travelers who visit areas with high risk for dengue should be especially careful about not getting bit by mosquitoes for three weeks after returning home in order to avoid infecting local mosquitoes, the CDC advises. About one in four people infected with dengue will get sick, and symptoms usually hit within two weeks of infection, according to the agency.
Common symptoms include:
A fever
Eye pain
Muscle, bone and/or joint pain
Headache
Nausea and/or vomiting
A rash.
Those symptoms typically last two to seven days, the CDC says.
About 1 in 20 people who get sick with dengue will develop a severe case, the agency adds, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and death.
Severe dengue symptoms include:
Belly pain or tenderness
Vomiting at least three times in 24 hours
Bleeding from the nose or gums
Vomiting blood, or blood in stool
Feeling extremely tired or restless
Warning signs of severe disease usually begin in the 24 to 48 hours after fever has gone away, according to the CDC, and anyone developing severe symptoms should seek immediate medical attention.
Dengue fever treatment
There is no specific treatment or medication for dengue, the CDC says.
Those with mild symptoms should still see a doctor and are typically advised to get lots of rest, stay hydrated and take acetaminophen to control fever and manage pain, according to the agency. The CDC says people with dengue should not take aspirin or ibuprofen.
Is there a dengue vaccine?
There is a dengue vaccine, but it is not widely available.
The vaccine is only approved for use in children ages 9 to 16 who’ve had a previous laboratory-confirmed dengue virus infection and live in areas where dengue occurs frequently or continuously, the CDC says.
U.S. travelers visiting an area where dengue is common aren’t eligible for the vaccine, the agency adds.
