As of Monday, St. Croix had recorded two dengue cases in 2025. By Tuesday, that number had risen to 14, according to Dr. Esther Ellis, the Virgin Islands Health Department’s epidemiologist. She noted that one provider reported 12 cases, while the remaining two came from another source.
“Yes, this is an outbreak,” she told the Source.
Ellis said that within the last 12 months, there have been 51 cases on St. Croix, 39 reported on St. John and 105 for St. Thomas and Water Island.
Dengue infections on St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island reached their highest levels last August, while St. Croix has yet to do so. Ellis expects the number of cases to decline once that point is reached.
Dengue fever symptoms can vary from mild to severe and, in some cases, may be life-threatening. According to the DOH website, common symptoms include fever, pain behind the eyes, muscle, joint, or bone pain, nausea, vomiting, and rash. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should consult a doctor and undergo a blood test to confirm the presence of the virus.
Dengue is most often transmitted by an infected female Aedes aegypti mosquito. Ellis advises taking precautions to avoid bites, especially at dawn and dusk, by wearing long sleeves and pants. Additionally, people should apply insect repellent to exposed skin (except for infants under two months old), repair any holes in window screens, and eliminate standing water around the home, as mosquitoes typically lay their eggs in such areas.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is small and dark, with white bands on its legs and a silver-white scale pattern on its body. It becomes infected by feeding on an infected person’s blood and can then transmit the virus to others. Once infected, the mosquito can spread the virus for the rest of its life.
The World Health Organization says the dengue virus is endemic, occurring regularly in tropical and subtropical climates.
