Dengue

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus that is spread through mosquito bites. Dengue is found in at least 100 countries. Within North America, dengue has been found in Mexico, the continental United States, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Dengue virus was recently found locally in Arizona; prior to this, all cases had been travel-related. See current case counts in Maricopa County. To find out if dengue is in an area you are traveling to, see the CDC’s Travelers’ Health page.

11.14.2022 Dengue Surveillance Press Release

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  1. Transmission
  2. Signs & Symptoms
  3. Treatment
  4. Prevention

Dengue is mainly spread through mosquito bites. Dengue is spread to people primarily through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are found in Maricopa County and other parts of Arizona; routine mosquito surveillance performed by Maricopa County Environmental Services Department in October 2022 detected the dengue virus in a mosquito trap in one neighborhood in the county. Prior to this, Maricopa County had not detected mosquitoes infected with dengue. In Arizona, dengue infections had been found only in people who were infected while traveling outside the United States. Maricopa County Department of Public Health has recently identified two individuals with dengue who might have been exposed by an infected mosquito in Maricopa County. These mosquitoes bite humans all day long so it is important to protect against mosquito bites whenever you are outside.

Dengue can be spread other ways, too. In rare cases, dengue can be spread during organ transplants or blood transfusions from infected donors, and there is some evidence of spread from an infected pregnant mother to her baby.

  1. Office of Epidemiology & Data Services


    Physical Address
    4041 N Central Avenue
    Phoenix, AZ 85012

    Fax 602-372-8935