State confirms ninth dengue case of 2026, a travel-related infection on Oʻahu

The Hawaiʻi Department of Health has identified a new travel-related case of dengue on Oʻahu, bringing the statewide total to nine so far in 2026, the agency announced.

The department said the person was exposed to the virus while traveling in a region where dengue is common. Health officials have found no link between this case and any previous case in Hawaiʻi. All nine cases this year involved travel to Pacific Island countries and territories, according to the department.

Department of Health teams have been sent to the affected area to inspect for mosquito breeding sites and carry out mosquito control, the agency said. It expects the risk of local transmission to be low.

The department used the case to urge residents to get rid of standing water after heavy rain over the past week. Mosquitoes need only small amounts of water to breed, and removing it can lower the risk of local spread of mosquito-borne diseases, the agency said. Common breeding sites include buckets, bromeliads and other water-catching plants, planters, rain barrels, small containers and cups left outside. Residents can prevent breeding by emptying such items at home and at work. More information is available from the department’s Vector Control Branch.

How dengue spreads

Dengue spreads when a mosquito bites an infected person and later bites someone else. Hawaiʻi has mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus, but the disease is not endemic in the state, the department said. Cases here have been limited to travelers.

Where dengue is a risk

The department said dengue is a year-round risk in tropical and subtropical areas, including parts of Central and South America, such as Brazil and Mexico; Asia, including the Philippines; the Middle East; and Africa. Pacific destinations with risk include American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Many Caribbean tourist destinations, including Puerto Rico, are also affected.

Some countries are reporting higher-than-usual case counts, the department said. They include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Panama, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

Advice for travelers

The department advises travelers to check country-specific guidance on dengue risk at least four to six weeks before departure on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention travel website.

The CDC recommends that travelers to affected areas:

• Use an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent.
• Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants outdoors.
• Sleep in air-conditioned rooms, in rooms with window screens or under insecticide-treated bed nets.

Travelers returning from areas with dengue risk should keep preventing mosquito bites for three weeks, the department said. Anyone who develops symptoms within two weeks of returning should seek medical evaluation.

Symptoms

Symptoms range from mild to severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches, according to the department. They typically last two to seven days, and most people recover within a week, though severe illness can occur.

Anyone who has recently traveled and has these symptoms should contact a health care provider, the department said. Providers and individuals who suspect dengue can call the department’s Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.