What to know
- Presentation Day/Time: Wednesday, April 23, 1:00–2:25 pm
- Presenter: Aisling Vaughan, PhD, MSc, EIS officer assigned to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
What did we do?
- Although rare in California, the Los Angeles County (LAC) Department of Public Health identified locally acquired dengue cases in August 2024. We responded to determine extent of spread, identify additional cases, and prevent transmission.
What did we find?
- Initial cases were identified through routine surveillance. Enhanced surveillance was conducted at 848 households, two workplaces, and one place of worship around the case residences. Overall, 375 persons were interviewed, 224 tested, and six additional infections identified.
- In total, 12 locally acquired cases were identified across four geographically distinct areas in LAC during August–November.
- A neighborhood cluster of eight cases during a seven-week span indicated an outbreak with sustained transmission.
- Eight of all cases occurred among females, and the median age was 51 years.
- Five patients required hospitalization.
- Diagnosis delays were observed, with median time from symptom onset to testing of 13 days and a range between 4-34 days.
Why does it matter?
- Local dengue transmission in LAC underscores emerging risk of mosquitoborne diseases in nonendemic areas.
- Coordinated actions by vector control and public health were crucial to mitigating further spread. Although resource intensive, enhanced surveillance identified additional cases that might otherwise have gone undetected.
- Diagnosis delays highlight the need for heightened healthcare provider awareness to ensure early case detection and timely intervention and prevent future outbreaks.
***This presentation has updated data that will be shared at the EIS Conference.
Field Photo
Abstract Category: Dengue