KANSAS (KSNT) - Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a report detailing the increased risk of the dengue virus in the country.
27 News reached out to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to see if dengue is making its rounds in the Sunflower State. According to the weekly infectious disease count by the KDHE, Kansas has had zero cases in 2024.
According to the CDC, dengue has been reported in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona and California. The CDC said the widespread risk to the U.S. is low.
According to the CDC, global cases of dengue have been the highest on record for the calendar year. Countries in the Americas have reported record numbers of dengue cases. The Americas reported more than 9.7 million dengue cases, twice as many as all reported cases in 2023. In the U.S., Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency with 1,498 cases.
The virus, which is spread by mosquitoes, can cause fever-like symptoms and other flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, aches, rashes, joint and bone pain and headaches. Dengue can cause serious bleeding, shock and death. The CDC said “warning signs” include abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, mucosal bleeding, liver enlargement and others.
It’s “a traveler’s nightmare” and a growing international concern, said Dr. Lulu Bravo in a report on June 25, who studies pediatric tropical diseases at the University of the Philippines Manila and who has worked with Takeda on its vaccine.
“When you have an outbreak in a country, tourists might not want to come,” Bravo said.
For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.
