Puerto Rico Confirms 3,154 Local Dengue Cases

As an Arctic blast brings cold weather to North America, many travelers are planning vacations to warmer climates in 2026. While dreaming of sandy beaches, travelers need to research areas where mosquito-related illnesses might be common.

After a record-setting year in 2024, when global Dengue fever cases reached nearly 14 million and resulted in over 9,000 deaths across 106 countries and territories, new data shows that infections have significantly declined this year.

As of early December 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recorded just over 5 million dengue cases and about 3,000 dengue-related fatalities, marking a notable decline in outbreaks from the previous year.

This WHO data represents roughly a 65% drop from 2024's total.

WHO experts attribute the reduction partly to improved vector control measures, shifts in herd immunity, and varying seasonal patterns.

In the United States, both travel-related and locally acquired dengue cases were also reduced in 2025.

However, according to the U.S. CDC data as of December 31, 2025, seven jurisdictions reported 3,325 local Dengue cases this year, including warm weather destinations.

The unfortunate leader is Puerto Rico, which has reported 3,154 Dengue cases, followed by Florida (58) and California (6).

From a disease-prevention perspective, Puerto Rico continued to administer the first-generation Dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia, to 82 people this year. 

Currently, neither Florida nor California offers Dengue vaccinations in high-risk areas, such as Florida's southeast coast.

With the arrival of a third Dengue vaccine (Butantan-DV) in 2026, even more people will have the chance to stay safe from this serious, preventable disease!