(NEXSTAR) – Federal health officials warned doctors around the U.S. this week to look out for signs patients may have dengue fever, a virus spread by mosquitoes that’s surging worldwide . Cases in the U.S. are three times higher than this time last year.
Most of the cases in the U.S. are in people who recently traveled abroad to regions where dengue is spreading quickly. Only one state so far, Florida, has evidence of local transmission, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said. U.S. territories Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are also seeing local spread of the disease.
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Cases associated with travel are more common. Thirty-eight states plus D.C. have reported at least one case of dengue fever this year.
14 cases of dengue fever in Colorado
According to the CDC, there have been 14 reported cases of dengue fever in Colorado so far this year. Last year, there were 20 total.
A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment told FOX31 that Coloradans are typically infected when traveling.