One mosquito bite changed my life.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted primarily by infected Aedes mosquitoes. Before this happened to us, I knew almost nothing about it.

What began as a beautiful New Year celebration in paradise turned into the most frightening illness of my life.

My daughter Angelina and I both became sick with dengue. I was hospitalized in Saint Barthélemy, in the Caribbean, and just a few days later, Angelina was hospitalized in Florida.

At first, I assumed I had COVID or another viral illness. I had no idea dengue was circulating on the island.

It was only after I was hospitalized in Saint Barthélemy that I learned there was an active dengue outbreak. The hospital was already treating many dengue patients, including serious cases.

Looking back, Angelina and I feel incredibly blessed to be alive. In 2024, dengue reached the highest level ever recorded globally, with more than 14.6 million reported cases and more than 12,000 dengue-related deaths worldwide. 

Until I was there myself, I simply didn’t know.

I was sent back to the United States with assistance so I could continue under medical supervision. In California, my case was unusual compared with what clinicians in dengue-endemic regions may see more routinely.  I was even asked more than once what dengue was. I remember being reassured that I would be fine, but I also felt that the seriousness of my condition was not fully recognized at first.

I spoke up. I explained what I was feeling and that I had dengue — but I did not feel heard. By the time the seriousness of the situation became clear, my condition had already worsened.

Within days, I was hospitalized again with serious complications affecting multiple organs, including my liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

That experience is one of the reasons I am speaking up now.

When a disease is encountered less often in a region, awareness matters — for travelers, patients, and healthcare professionals.

Travel history matters. Dengue should be considered when the geography and symptoms fit.

And this is no longer only a story about a tropical island.

Globally, dengue has reached unprecedented levels in recent years, while locally acquired dengue transmission is increasingly being reported in places travelers may not traditionally associate with the disease.

Right now, there is significant mosquito-borne disease activity in the United States.

In California, West Nile virus activity is unusually high. As of October 2, 2026, the state had reported 252 human West Nile virus cases across 23 counties, 19 deaths, and 3,839 positive mosquito samples across 29 counties. 

In Florida, dengue activity is unusually high in 2026. The state has reported at least 498 cases so far, including at least 253 locally acquired infections and 245 travel-associated cases, with one confirmed dengue-related death.

That is why I am speaking now. Awareness before the emergency matters. Know what is circulating, know how to protect yourself, and know when to seek care.