The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) has confirmed a case of dengue fever in Baldwin Park, marking the third locally acquired case in California. Dengue fever is spread mainly by the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes.
This is the first case identified by LACDPH, with two other cases previously reported in Long Beach and Pasadena in 2023. The department stated that the risk of dengue spreading in Los Angeles County remains low.
According to the CDC, as of September 5, 2024, there have been 4,369 dengue cases reported across 53 U.S. jurisdictions, including Florida, New Jersey, New York, and Puerto Rico. In 2023, there were 2,343 cases reported in 52 jurisdictions.
The CDC emphasized that local cases highlight the presence of infected mosquitoes and the need for preventive measures. Currently, as of September 10, 2024, dengue vaccines are not available in the U.S.