VDH investigating dengue virus in Northern Virginia, first-ever documented case of virus being acquired locally

Key Points:

• The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is investigating the first-ever locally acquired case of dengue virus in Northern Virginia, involving a resident with no recent travel outside the state.
• Health officials believe the infection resulted from a local mosquito biting a resident who had an internationally acquired dengue case, then transmitting the virus to the local resident.
• The VDH and local health departments consider the risk of dengue transmission in Virginia to be low but are actively monitoring for additional cases.
• Severe dengue symptoms include severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, fluid accumulation, mucosal bleeding, altered mental status, and liver enlargement, and require urgent medical attention.
• Healthcare providers are advised to prevent mosquito bites, consider dengue in patients with febrile illness regardless of travel history, conduct diagnostic testing, and report suspected cases to local health authorities promptly.