A potentially serious illness transmitted by mosquitoes is on the rise in Los Angeles County, and experts expect to see more cases as a result of climate change.
The number of dengue fever cases in Los Angeles is “unprecedented,” according to county public health officials. In the past month, local transmission has been recorded in Baldwin Park (San Gabriel Valley) and Panorama City (San Fernando Valley).
Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne illness. It tends to thrive in tropical and sub-tropical environments. The viral infection occurs when a human is bitten by an infected mosquito. Most people will experience no symptoms or symptoms that are mild. But some people can become seriously ill, requiring hospitalization. In severe cases, dengue can result in death.
Until last year, all recorded cases of dengue were associated with outside travel. The first locally-transmitted case in California occurred in Pasadena, then Long Beach, in 2023.
The World Health Organization has previously warned that climate change “could prompt a record number of dengue infections worldwide.”
Read more about the rise in cases here.
To learn more about dengue and how you can protect yourself, visit the Centers for Disease Control website.