The Hawaii Department of Health has confirmed the first travel-related dengue virus case in the state this year.
The case was recently confirmed in a Maui resident exposed to the virus while traveling in a region where dengue is common, health officials said. Teams have been deployed to conduct inspections and implement mosquito control measures in the affected area, officials said, without specifying where on Maui.
Dengue is a viral illness that is spread through mosquito bites. While Hawaii is home to Aedes mosquitoes, which can carry dengue, the disease is not endemic in the state.
Dengue is a year-round risk in many parts of the world, including the tropical and subtropical areas of Central and South America, including Brazil and Mexico; Asia, including the Philippines; the Middle East; Africa; and some Pacific Islands, such as American Samoa, Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
Many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among returning U.S. travelers from several countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cook Islands, Colombia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Samoa, among others.
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Anyone who travels to an area with risk of dengue is at risk of infection, the CDC said, and travelers should review country-specific information at least four to six weeks before traveling.
In 2025, DOH confirmed a total of 15 travel-related dengue cases — 14 on Oahu, and one on Maui.
If dengue symptoms — such as fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches — develop within two weeks of return from dengue-affected areas, residents should seek medical evaluation.
Anyone who suspects a dengue infection should call the DOH Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.