Travellers from Pacific islands linked to all 8 Hawaii dengue cases

Hawaii's Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oahu, bringing the state's total for 2026 to eight. The infected person picked up the virus while travelling in a region where dengue is common, and no link to earlier Hawaii cases has been found.

Key facts

• Eight dengue cases have been reported in Hawaii in 2026, all of them travel-related.
• All eight involved travel to Pacific Island countries and territories.
• The new case is on Oahu; the DOH says the expected risk of transmission is low.
• Health officials advise reviewing country-specific travel health information four to six weeks before travelling.
• Returnees should avoid mosquito bites for three weeks after coming back.
• Suspected cases can be reported on the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.

What has happened?

DOH teams have been sent to the affected area to carry out inspections and mosquito control measures. Officials say the circumstances of the case mean the expected risk of transmission is low, though recent heavy rain makes it more important for the public to remove standing water wherever possible, since this limits mosquito breeding and lowers the chance of local transmission of vector-borne diseases.

Dengue spreads from an infected person to a mosquito and then to another person. Hawaii has mosquitoes capable of carrying the virus, but the disease is not endemic in the state, and cases remain limited to travellers.

Where is dengue a risk?

The DOH lists dengue as a year-round risk across tropical and subtropical parts of Central and South America — including Brazil and Mexico — as well as Asia, including the Philippines; the Middle East; Africa; and several Pacific islands, among them American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. Popular Caribbean destinations such as Puerto Rico are also affected.

Some countries are reporting higher-than-usual numbers of cases, including Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Ecuador, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, the Marshall Islands, Panama, Sri Lanka, Vanuatu and Vietnam.

What should travellers do?

The DOH advises travellers to check current, country-specific travel health information on dengue risk and prevention at least four to six weeks before departure. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends standard precautions in affected areas: using an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long trousers outdoors, and sleeping in air-conditioned rooms, rooms with window screens or under insecticide-treated bed nets.

Anyone returning from a dengue-risk area should keep preventing mosquito bites for three weeks. If symptoms appear within two weeks of returning, they should seek a medical evaluation.

What this means for travellers

Travellers heading to Pacific island destinations or other listed areas should plan mosquito-bite precautions before and after their trip, and allow time — four to six weeks — to review country-specific guidance. Recent visitors to dengue-risk areas who develop fever, nausea, vomiting, rash or body aches should contact their healthcare provider.

Symptoms range from mild to severe and typically last two to seven days. While severe illness can occur, most people recover within a week. Healthcare providers and individuals who suspect dengue infection are advised to call the Disease Reporting Line at 808-586-4586.

Further information on mosquito control is available from the DOH Vector Control Branch, and current travel health guidance is published by the CDC.