Dengue Travel Alert Identifies 11 Countries

Following a decrease in Dengue fever cases in 2025, the global risk may be rising again in 2026 across the Americas, Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Global Dengue Travel Health Notice, updated on January 22, 2026, eleven countries are reporting higher-than-usual Dengue activity or elevated cases among U.S. travelers returning from these destinations.

These countries include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Cook Islands (New Zealand), Cuba, Mali, Mauritania, Nicaragua, Samoa, Sudan, and Vietnam.

The CDC has flagged these nations based on public health data showing surges or sustained transmission. Travelers to these locations may face increased exposure, particularly during warmer, wetter seasons that favor mosquito breeding.

This updated Notice, classified as Level 1, states that Dengue, a mosquito-borne viral illness primarily spread by Aedes species mosquitoes, remains a year-round threat in many tropical and subtropical regions.

Outbreaks typically occur every 2-5 years. Dengue symptoms include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, rash, and, in severe cases, potentially life-threatening complications such as Dengue hemorrhagic fever.

In the United States, Florida continues to be an unfortunate leader in reporting Dengue cases.

Three cases of Dengue were reported in January 2026 in persons who had international travel. In 2025, 429 cases of Dengue fever were reported among individuals who had traveled internationally, with 311 cases among travelers from Cuba and 21 from Puerto Rico.

Additionally, in 2025, 62 locally acquired Dengue cases were reported in Florida.

There is currently no specific treatment available in the U.S., so the CDC advises anyone planning to travel to dengue-risk areas to take standard precautions against mosquito bites, as there is no universal vaccine recommended for most travelers.

As of January 23, 2026, second and third-generation (Butantan-DV) Dengue vaccines are available in select countries, but not in the continental U.S.