A mosquito is shown acquiring a blood meal from a human host. The Hawai‘i Department of Health is asking travelers to take precautions after the department identified a new dengue virus case on Oʻahu.

The Hawai’i Department of Health has identified a new travel-related dengue virus case on Oʻahu, bringing the number of total cases to 13 in the state this year.

So far, there has been one case on Kauaʻi, three on Maui and nine on Oʻahu. The department said the person who most recently contracted the dengue virus had traveled to a region where it is known to be spread.

According to the department, teams were sent out to perform mosquito control in the affected area. The community is also being asked to help reduce the risk for any local transmission by exercising best practices.

The dengue virus is spread from an infected person to a mosquito and then to other people. While Hawai’i is home to the type of mosquitoes that can carry dengue, the disease is not established here and cases have currently only been seen in travelers.

Multiple regions around the world are currently experiencing higher-than-normal dengue activity.

Dengue outbreaks occur in many parts of the world including Central and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, as well as some Pacific Islands as well as many popular tourist destinations in the Caribbean such as Puerto Rico.

Anyone who plans to travel or has traveled to an area with dengue could be at risk for infection.

Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise travelers to practice usual precautions when traveling to areas of dengue risk. This includes using an Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and sleeping in an air-conditioned room, a room with window screens or under an insecticide-treated bed net.

Some countries are reporting increased numbers of cases, so it is important four to six weeks before you travel, to review country-specific travel information for the most up-to-date guidance on dengue risk and prevention measures for that country.

Travelers returning from an area with risk of dengue should take steps to prevent mosquito bites for three weeks, and if symptoms of dengue develop within two weeks upon return, they should seek medical evaluation.

Symptoms of dengue are often mild or severe and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and body aches. Symptoms typically last two to seven days.

Although severe and even life-threatening illness can occur, most people recover after about a week.

For more information, go to the Disease Outbreak Control Division website at health.hawaii.gov/docd/ and the Vector Control Branch website at health.hawaii.gov/vcb/.