SC Public Health Warns of Dengue Threat as Mosquito Season Looms

The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) issued an urgent health update on March 18, 2025, highlighting the ongoing risk of dengue virus infections linked to competent local mosquito vectors like Aedes species prevalent in the state. This warning follows a massive uptick in dengue across the Americas, where 13 million cases and 8,200 deaths were reported in 2024, escalating to over 760,000 cases by early March 2025—a 15% jump over the five-year average. In response, DPH launched the Mosquito-Borne Disease Dashboard in February 2026, offering bi-weekly updates from May through November on dengue, West Nile virus and malaria cases pulled from the SCION surveillance system.

No locally acquired dengue cases have been confirmed in South Carolina to date, but the state ranks vulnerable due to its humid Lowcountry climate and travel hubs like Charleston and Myrtle Beach. Florida led the U.S. with 1,016 travel-associated cases in 2024, underscoring the threat of imported infections sparking local transmission during mosquito season. DPH officials emphasize that all four dengue serotypes circulated among U.S. travelers last year, with DENV-4 dominating recent months and DENV-3 re-emerging, potentially worsening outcomes for those with prior exposure.

"Healthcare providers and residents must stay proactive," the March CDC health update co-issued by DPH stressed, recommending enhanced testing and mosquito control. The dashboard provides demographic breakdowns and resources tailored to South Carolina communities, from coastal parishes to Upstate suburbs, amid a 2026 Americas report showing 154,970 suspected cases in early weeks alone. Public health teams are ramping up surveillance as spring travel aligns with peak dengue season abroad, particularly in Puerto Rico where cases remain above outbreak levels.

Residents are advised to eliminate standing water, use EPA-registered repellents and wear long sleeves, especially in high-risk areas like Horry and Beaufort counties with established Aedes aegypti populations. DPH continues bi-weekly dashboard refreshes through November 30, 2026, to track any upticks and guide response efforts statewide.