Global dengue: reading a changing country list without turning it into a risk ranking
Understand why CDC’s global dengue list can combine different evidence signals, change over time and still leave some transmission areas unlisted.
An updated notice is not a newly discovered outbreak everywhere
The CDC page says the notice was first posted in June 2024 and is updated regularly. Its current review date and the date supplied through a feed therefore describe a version of a continuing notice, rather than the first appearance of dengue in every location mentioned. A recent timestamp should not be read as the start of every outbreak.
This distinction matters when comparing a saved link with a newer card or country list. Keep the original notice, the version available and the source-copy date separate. A stable address can remain useful while its contents change; the address alone cannot tell a reader which version another person previously saw.
One list can bring together different surveillance signals
The notice explains that listed countries can be reporting more cases than usual, or can be associated with more dengue diagnoses than expected among returning US travellers. Those are different observation systems. The first concerns reporting within a country; the second concerns a particular group of travellers and the way that surveillance interprets their reports.
Combining those signals into a reading list does not make the list a table of directly comparable national infection rates. Differences in the population observed, reporting process and baseline matter. Sorting countries alphabetically or displaying them on a map does not create a valid ranking of an individual journey's risk.
Absence from the list is a limit of the evidence, not clearance
The source explicitly says the list does not contain every country with dengue transmission. A location missing from this particular notice should therefore not be labelled dengue-free. Likewise, a change in inclusion should be interpreted in the context of the source's evidence and dates, rather than as proof that transmission instantly started or ended.
Our disease background and travel-notice guide provide separate reading paths for understanding the disease and the purpose of an agency notice. This explainer supplies a comparison of version, evidence signal and coverage. It neither estimates an individual's exposure nor substitutes for current local advice or a qualified professional's assessment.
Three limits to keep beside the list
| Feature | What to retain | Unsupported shortcut |
|---|---|---|
| Date | Original notice and current version | Every recent update starts a new outbreak |
| Evidence | Local reports versus returning-traveller signals | Listed countries form a comparable risk ranking |
| Coverage | The source's incomplete geographic coverage | An unlisted destination is dengue-free |
Source snapshot · feed date 10 November 2026
Level 1 - Global Dengue
This Travel Health Notice (THN) was originally posted on June 20, 2024, and is updated regularly based on the most current data.
Key points
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, with outbreaks commonly occurring every 2–5 years.
Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases of the disease.
Dengue is spread by mosquito bites.
Travelers to risk areas should prevent mosquito bites by using an EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room or room with window screens.
What is the current situation?
The countries listed below are reporting higher than usual numbers of cases, or CDC has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among U.S. travelers returning from those countries. Travelers visiting these countries may be at increased risk:
Bangladesh
Bolivia
Cambodia
Chad
Colombia
Cuba
Ecuador
Kenya
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Panama
Peru
Vanuatu
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Countries are added to this list based on publicly available data. Not all countries with dengue transmission are on this list. Travelers should practice prevention measures for all areas with a risk of dengue.
Traveler Information
CDC dengue homepage
Dengue Around the World
Clinician Information
Dengue in CDC Yellow Book
Dengue information for health care professionals
Countries reporting higher-than-usual number of dengue cases (
View larger
)
What is dengue?
Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.
Symptoms from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.
Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.
In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.
*Based on ArboNET modeling which considers historical data about dengue cases among travelers to each country, from 2010 to present. It calculates the expected number of travelers with dengue returning from each country monthly to account for dengue seasonality. If the number of dengue cases in travelers is higher than expected (using an 80% threshold) for that month, dengue transmission is considered ‘high’. ArboNET is the national arboviral surveillance system that maintains data on arboviral infections among humans, presumptive viremic blood doners, veterinary disease cases, mosquitoes, dead birds, and sentinel animals. ArboNET is managed by CDC and state health departments and relies on the clinical diagnoses, testing, and reporting of arboviral diseases to public health authorities.
Dengue — sources, context and outbreak reporting
Understand dengue through a concise source-checked overview, clear reporting context and direct links to official public-health information.
Read the disease guide →Sources & Verification
Source: CDC. Original information is available free from CDC. Linking does not imply endorsement by CDC, HHS or the U.S. Government.
- Level 1 - Global Dengue Also cited as: CDC — Global Dengue Verify original (opens in a new tab)
Feed retrieved 10 Nov 2026, 19:00 UTC.
Pinterest
Reddit
