The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has identified a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, raising the state's total count to six cases in 2025. This case was contracted in an area where dengue is prevalent, and it is unrelated to a previous case reported on April 10, 2025. DOH teams are actively conducting inspections and initiating mosquito control measures in the affected zone. Citizens are advised to take precautionary measures to help prevent local transmission.
Dengue virus is transmitted through mosquitoes that have bitten an infected person. Hawai‘i, though home to mosquitoes capable of carrying dengue, does not have endemic dengue, limiting cases to travelers. Increased dengue activity is being seen in various regions globally, including parts of Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific Islands, and the Caribbean, like Puerto Rico.
In 2024, Hawai‘i reported 16 travel-related dengue cases involving travel to countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and the Philippines, among others, where dengue is endemic. Travelers to such regions are advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to use insect repellent, wear appropriate clothing, and stay in protected accommodations. It is recommended that up-to-date travel information be reviewed prior to visiting at-risk areas.
Travelers returning from regions with dengue risk should take measures to avoid mosquito bites for three weeks. If symptoms develop within two weeks of returning home, medical attention should be sought. Dengue symptoms can vary from mild to severe, including fever and body aches, and typically resolve within a week.
In response to this case, DOH's Vector Control Branch is working on mosquito-reduction activities in the affected areas, aiming to lower transmission risks. In all areas, regardless of reported cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites, such as standing water in various containers, is recommended to prevent mosquito proliferation.