First Locally Acquired Dengue Case Reported In Northern Virginia

A Northern Virginia resident has contracted dengue without traveling outside the state, marking what state health officials say is a locally acquired case of the mosquito-borne virus.

The Virginia Department of Health announced Tuesday that the person became sick after they were infected with the virus, despite having no travel history.

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Until now, Virginia's dengue cases have almost exclusively been linked to international travel.

Health officials emphasized that the overall risk to Virginians remains low, but urged residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites and eliminate standing water around their homes.

First Known Locally Acquired Case

The announcement marks a notable change from recent years, when Virginia's reported dengue infections were almost exclusively associated with international travel.

According to the CDC's historic dengue surveillance data, Virginia reported 55 dengue cases in 2025, all of which were considered preliminary surveillance data and were subject to revision. Nearly all were travel-related, and Virginia had no documented locally acquired dengue cases in 2025.

Dengue is caused by one of four closely related viruses and is spread to people through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. While Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are found only sporadically in Virginia, Aedes albopictus mosquitoes are common throughout the state.

According to VDH, Aedes mosquitoes typically breed in containers holding standing water near homes, including buckets, flowerpots, pet bowls, birdbaths and other outdoor containers.

Symptoms And Treatment

About one in four people infected with dengue develops symptoms.

The illness usually begins five to seven days after an infected mosquito bite and typically lasts two to seven days. Common symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Pain behind the eyes
• Muscle, joint and bone pain
• Nausea and vomiting

Health officials say about one in 20 people who become ill develop severe dengue, a potentially life-threatening condition. Warning signs can include severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, or blood in the stool.

There is no specific medication that treats dengue. VDH advises people with suspected dengue to seek medical care and use acetaminophen for fever or pain while avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen because they can increase the risk of bleeding. Patients should also rest, drink plenty of fluids and avoid additional mosquito bites while they have a fever.

Last year, the CDC similarly noted that there is no specific medicine for dengue and that most patients recover within about a week, although severe illness can occur in approximately one in 20 cases.

Preventing Mosquito Bites

VDH says preventing mosquito bites remains the best defense against dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses common in Virginia.

Residents are encouraged to:

• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
• Wear long sleeves and long pants when outdoors.
• Keep window and door screens in good repair.
• Remove standing water from flowerpots, buckets, barrels, children's pools and other containers where mosquitoes can breed.

Health officials also note that dengue is not spread directly from person to person. However, mosquitoes can become infected after biting someone who has dengue, creating the potential for additional local transmission.

More information about dengue is available through the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.