CDC issues global travel notice as incurable brain-bleeding virus reaches Americas READ MORE: Travel alert over spread of POLIO issued by the CDC By LUKE ANDREWS, US SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER Published: 15:04 GMT, 24 March 2026 | Updated: 18:33 GMT, 24 March 2026 Urgent warnings have been issued for travelers heading to multiple countries over spiraling outbreaks of a mosquito-borne disease that can cause brain bleeds.
The CDC issued a level 1 global travel advisory after detecting unusual upticks in cases of dengue fever across the world.
In particular, the CDC warned of 16 countries where travelers have an increased risk of contracting the illness, warning them to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites.
The CDC said it 'has identified a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among US travelers returning from' Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Guyana, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, New Caledonia, Pakistan, Samoa, Sudan, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
Health officials urged travelers to wear insect repellent, long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, and to sleep in air-conditioned rooms or a room with window screens.
Dengue fever often causes an asymptomatic infection, but in some patients it can trigger life-threatening internal bleeding, respiratory distress and heart failure.
It can also lead to shock and organ failure, especially of the liver, brain and heart.
Patients may also develop dengue shock syndrome, a condition where severe bleeding leads to a rapid drop in blood pressure and causes the body to go into shock.
Children under five, adults over 65 and pregnant women are considered to be most at risk from the virus.
The CDC has issued a travel alert for travelers heading to 16 countries over dengue fever (stock image of the Maldives) Dengue was virtually eradicated from the US in the 1970s, but sporadic outbreaks have been recorded since, particularly in warmer states, including Florida and California.
Most cases recorded in the US are linked to international travel.
A level 1 travel advisory urges Americans to practice usual precautions because of the presence of an outbreak.
It is the lowest level travel alert out of....
