Locally-transmitted dengue fever in Europe and the US in 2023
European health officials report that in 2023, over six million dengue cases and over 6000 dengue-related deaths were reported from 92 countries/territories. Most cases were reported from Brazil, Bangladesh, Mexico, Peru and Burkina Faso.
The upsurge in local dengue cases were also seen in Europe (128) and the United States (188) last year.
Italy
There are 82 confirmed cases of locally-transmitted dengue in Italy in 2023.
These cases refer to four unconnected transmission episodes in the province of Lodi (41 confirmed cases), in the province of Latina (2 cases) and in the province of Rome (38 cases with exposures in different parts of the metropolitan city of Rome and 1 case in Anzio. All cases, whose outcome is known, have recovered or are improving.
Prior to 2023, the most autochthonous cases in a single year in Italy were reported in 2020 (10).
France
French health authorities reported 43 local dengue transmissions in 2023.
The cases were distributed as follows: Île-de-France (3 cases), Bouches–du-Rhône (14 cases in 2 clusters), Pyrénées-Orientales (11 cases), Hérault (2 cases), Gard (9 cases), Alpes-Maritimes (2 cases) and Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (2 cases) departments.
For each of these outbreaks, entomological and epidemiological investigations were immediately implemented as well as vector control actions.
In 2022, France recorded 65 local dengue cases.
Spain
In Catalonia, at the beginning of August 2023, the first case of autochthonous transmission of dengue this year was detected, in the Tarragona area. Later, at the beginning of October, another case was reported in the Maresme area.
On October 20, a third suspected case of dengue was reported, also in the Maresme area, which was later confirmed by the laboratory. Of the three cases, only two required hospital admission and were later discharged home.
In 2022, six local cases were reported in Ibiza.
United States
In 2023, 185 cases of locally acquired dengue have been reported Florida from the following counties: Broward (4), Hardee (19), Miami-Dade (160), Palm Beach, and Polk counties.
Florida saw 68 local dengue cases in 2022.
In addition to Florida, California reported two cases (Long Beach and Pasadena) and one case in Texas (reported in Dallas, but the person was infected in Val Verde County).
In October 2023, WHO Chief Scientist, Jeremy Farrar said is likely to “take off” and become endemic in parts of the United States, Europe and Africa - all regions where there has already been some limited local transmission - as global warming makes new areas hospitable to the mosquitoes that spread it. That will put acute pressure on hospital systems in many countries, he warned.