A mosquito is shown acquiring a blood meal from a human host.

State officials are warning the public after confirming a new travel-related case of the dengue virus on Maui.

According to the Hawai’i Department of Health, this brings the number of dengue cases in Hawaii to four with three other cases on Oahu.

The state says the affected individual was exposed to the virus while traveling to a region where dengue is common, and teams have been deployed on Maui to implement mosquito control measures in the affected area.

The public is encouraged to follow best practices to help prevent local transmission including having travelers returning from dengue-endemic areas take precautions to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks. If dengue symptoms develop within two weeks of return, travelers should seek medical evaluation.

The dengue virus is transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito, and then to another person. While Hawai’i is home to the mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not established in the state, and cases have been limited to travelers.

Several regions worldwide are experiencing higher-than-usual dengue activity.

Dengue outbreaks occur in many parts of the world including Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and several Pacific Islands. Many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.

In 2024, there were 16 travel-related cases of dengue reported in Hawaiʻi.

Prior to showing symptoms, people who’ve contracted the virus have traveled to Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Honduras, Indonesia, Thailand, Japan, Philippines and India, all destinations where dengue is known to be endemic.

Symptoms of dengue can range from mild to severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days, and while severe illness can occur, most people recover within a week. Individuals who have recently traveled and are experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider.

In areas with suspected or confirmed dengue cases, state officials from the Vector Control Branch are conducting inspections and mosquito-reduction activities. Reducing mosquito populations lowers the risk of dengue transmission to others. In areas without reported dengue cases, eliminating mosquito breeding sites around the home is a helpful preventive measure.

Mosquitoes need only small amounts of standing water to breed. Common breeding sites include buckets, water-catching plants (such as bromeliads), small containers, planters, rain barrels and even cups left outside. Pouring out containers of standing water can significantly reduce the potential for mosquito breeding.