Dengue Fever and Sustainable Development Goals: A Growing Public Health Concern in the United States

Introduction

As summer marks the peak mosquito season, health and vector control officials in the United States are preparing for a potential increase in dengue fever cases. This report highlights the challenges posed by dengue fever in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly focusing on health, climate action, and sustainable cities.

Current Dengue Fever Trends in the United States

1. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 3,700 new dengue infections were reported in the contiguous United States last year, an increase from about 2,050 cases in 2023.
2. Most cases were acquired abroad, except for 105 locally contracted cases in California, Florida, and Texas.
3. The CDC issued a health alert in March 2025, emphasizing the ongoing risk of dengue infection.

Endemic Status and Geographic Spread

• Dengue is endemic in many warmer regions globally, including Latin America, India, and Southeast Asia, aligning with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• Locally acquired dengue cases in the U.S. primarily occur in Puerto Rico, which declared a local public health emergency due to a sharp increase in 2024.
• In California, the presence of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes has expanded from nonexistence 25 years ago to 25 counties and over 400 cities, mostly in Southern California and the Central Valley.

Health Implications and Challenges

• While many infected individuals remain asymptomatic, severe symptoms include bleeding, intense abdominal pain, vomiting, and swelling, with occasional fatalities.
• Diagnosis is complicated due to the lack of rapid testing; antibody tests are the primary diagnostic tool but are not widely available commercially.
• Primary care providers face challenges in recognizing and managing dengue, underscoring the need for enhanced healthcare capacity and training (SDG 3).

Impact of Climate Change and Urbanization

Climate change contributes to the proliferation of dengue-transmitting mosquitoes, which thrive in warm urban environments. This situation highlights the intersection with SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

• Warmer temperatures and urban heat islands facilitate mosquito survival and disease transmission.
• Locally acquired infections often result from travelers introducing the virus to mosquito populations in their home communities.

Vector Control and Public Health Interventions

1. Eliminating standing water and using mosquito repellents are recommended preventive measures.
2. Vector control efforts in California have intensified, especially following wildfires that created new mosquito breeding grounds, such as unmaintained swimming pools in Los Angeles.
3. Innovative methods, such as releasing sterilized Aedes mosquitoes, are being explored but require significant investment and coordination (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals).
4. Funding challenges exist due to federal research cuts, including the National Institutes of Health scaling back climate change-related research.

Vaccine Development and Future Outlook

• Currently available dengue vaccines face discontinuation due to low global demand, and other vaccines remain unavailable in the U.S.
• Research efforts are ongoing to develop effective and safe vaccines, with promising animal testing results anticipated within a year, potentially leading to human trials in two years.
• The absence of effective vaccines and antivirals risks establishing dengue as an endemic disease in the U.S., impacting public health sustainability (SDG 3).

Conclusion

Dengue fever represents a growing public health challenge in the United States, exacerbated by climate change, urbanization, and limited healthcare resources. Addressing this issue aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals, including ensuring healthy lives, combating climate change, and fostering sustainable communities. Coordinated efforts in vector control, healthcare capacity building, research, and policy support are essential to mitigate the impact of dengue and protect public health.

References and Further Information

• Seasonal Mosquito Risk Graphic – California Department of Public Health
• CDC Historic Dengue Data
• CDC Health Alert on Dengue
• California Dengue Infection Updates
• Pan American Health Organization Dengue Situation Report

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article focuses on dengue fever, a significant public health issue, highlighting disease prevention, control, and the development of vaccines.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Climate change is mentioned as a factor contributing to the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes, linking disease prevalence to environmental changes.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Efforts to eliminate standing water to reduce mosquito breeding grounds relate to water management and sanitation.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Research and development of new vaccines and innovative vector control methods like releasing sterilized mosquitoes.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Urban mosquito control efforts and managing disease spread in cities and communities.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • Target 3.3: End the epidemics of communicable diseases including vector-borne diseases like dengue.
   • Target 3.b: Support the research and development of vaccines and medicines for communicable diseases.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
3. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls.
4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade technological capabilities and encourage innovation.
5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Incidence and Number of Dengue Cases
   • Reported new dengue infections in the United States and California (e.g., 3,700 new infections in the U.S. last year, 725 new cases in California in 2024).
   • Number of locally acquired cases versus imported cases.
2. Vector Presence and Spread
   • Geographic spread of Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes (e.g., presence in 25 counties and over 400 cities in California).
   • Number of breeding sites treated or eliminated (e.g., treatment of 1,400 unmaintained swimming pools after wildfires).
3. Vaccine Development and Availability
   • Status of vaccine availability and development (e.g., discontinuation of existing vaccine, progress in new vaccine trials).
4. Research Funding and Efforts
   • Level of federal funding for climate change-related research on dengue and vector control.
5. Public Health Alerts and Emergency Declarations
   • Issuance of health alerts by CDC and local public health emergencies (e.g., Puerto Rico’s local public health emergency due to dengue).

4. Table: SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: laist.com