27 Illinois residents infected with dengue fever, CDC says

(WTVO) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 27 residents of Illinois have been infected with dengue fever as high levels of cases are spreading across the United States.

The CDC said 17 of the reported Illinois cases are in Cook County.

More than 9.7 million cases of the disease have been reported this year, more than twice as many reported in 2023.

Dengue is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can cause nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, rash, joint and bone pain, and headaches.

There is currently no antiviral medication to treat dengue, but most cases subside within a week or two.

Dengue is most common in tropical environments. Florida is listed as the state with the most infections, with 210 reported infections.

Sign up for our Medical Watch newsletter. This daily update includes important information from WGN’s Dina Bair and the Med Watch team, including, the latest updates from health organizations, in-depth reporting on advancements in medical technology and treatments, as well as personal features related to people in the medical field. Sign up here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.