Dengue Cases Prompt Responses From California Health Officials

KFF Health News (11/12, Boyd-Barrett) reports that “across California, public health and pest control authorities are facing a new reality as the Aedes mosquitoes bring the threat of dengue and potentially other tropical diseases, such as chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever.” In 2024, “authorities have identified at least 13 cases of locally acquired dengue, up from two in 2023.” The Aedes mosquitoes “are now present in at least 24 California counties.” In response, “California officials are hoping to beat back dengue by expanding mosquito surveillance, developing detailed response plans for mosquito outbreaks and human infections, and improving data sharing across agencies.” In addition, they’re “going door to door in neighborhoods to remove standing water sources and apply pesticides.” Meanwhile, “some vector control districts...are even growing their own sterile mosquitoes to release into the wild to reduce local Aedes populations.”