Overview
- U.S. health officials issued a Level 1 dengue notice Monday, advising usual precautions for trips to 16 countries rather than canceling travel.
- The CDC tied the alert to higher-than-expected infections in returning travelers and more than 525 U.S. dengue cases so far this year, noting that severe illness can cause internal bleeding and shock.
- The countries flagged include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Cook Islands, Cuba, the Maldives, Pakistan, Samoa, Sudan, Timor‑Leste, and Vietnam, reflecting higher local activity or more infections in U.S. travelers.
- The UK Health Security Agency, in a report released Thursday, said travel-associated chikungunya rose 43% to 160 cases in 2025, mostly linked to Sri Lanka, India, and Bangladesh, while imported malaria stayed high at 1,629 and dengue fell to 344.
- Officials recommend EPA‑registered repellents such as DEET or picaridin, long sleeves and pants, screened or air‑conditioned lodging, bed nets when needed, and note limited vaccine options for most travelers, with chikungunya vaccines available privately in the UK.