Virginia Health Departments Investigate First Locally Acquired Dengue Case
The Virginia Department of Health, along with Fairfax and Loudoun County health departments, is investigating the state's first locally acquired dengue virus infection. The case involves two individuals, one of whom likely contracted the virus through a mosquito bite after being in close proximity to an international traveler who had recently been diagnosed with dengue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates that Virginia had only four dengue cases in 2026, out of 1,443 nationwide. The risk of contracting dengue in Virginia remains low, as most cases occur in tropical or subtropical climates. Dengue is transmitted through the bites of infected Aedes mosquitoes and can range from asymptomatic to severe disease. 
