The Hawai‘i Department of Health (DOH) has announced the confirmation of a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu. This latest report brings the total dengue cases in the state to six in 2025, with one case in Maui and five in Oʻahu. The individual in this case contracted the virus while traveling to an area where dengue is prevalent. This recent case has no connection to the one reported on April 10, 2025.
The DOH is deploying teams for inspections and mosquito control in the affected region. The public is urged to adhere to preventive practices to curb local transmission. Dengue is transmitted from a person to a mosquito, which then transmits the virus to another person. Although mosquitoes capable of carrying dengue are present in Hawai‘i, the virus is not endemic in the state and current instances are linked to travel. Several regions globally are witnessing increased dengue activity.
Reported outbreaks occur in Central and South America, parts of Asia, the Middle East, Africa, several Pacific Islands, and Caribbean tourist spots, such as Puerto Rico. The state of Hawaiʻi documented 16 travel-related dengue cases in 2024. Those cases involved travelers to countries where dengue is endemic, including Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and others.
Individuals planning to travel to high-risk areas are advised by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to take precautions. These include using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long clothing outdoors, and sleeping in protected environments. Before traveling, checking country-specific dengue risk and prevention guidelines is recommended.
Travelers returning from dengue-endemic zones should avoid mosquito bites for three weeks and seek medical help if symptoms, such as fever, nausea, or rash, appear within two weeks of return. In areas with confirmed dengue cases, the DOH's Vector Control Branch is conducting mosquito-reduction measures.
Mosquitoes breed in small amounts of standing water found in planters, containers, and other common items. Eliminating these breeding sites can help control mosquito populations and reduce dengue transmission risks.
For more details, the public is encouraged to visit the Disease Outbreak Control Division and Vector Control Branch websites.