Texas public health officials announced on Monday the state’s first locally acquired case of dengue virus for 2024, reported in Cameron County.

This marks a concerning milestone in a year that has already seen 106 travel-related dengue cases in Texas, the highest annual count since 2002. One of those cases resulted in death, officials said in a press release.

A “locally acquired” case means the infected individual had no history of travel to regions where dengue is typically prevalent. The virus is commonly transmitted in tropical and subtropical areas, including parts of Florida and U.S. territories in the Caribbean.

Dengue is spread through mosquito bites, and roughly 25% of infected individuals develop symptoms. These often include fever, aches, pains, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. Symptoms generally appear within two weeks of a mosquito bite and last between two and seven days, with most patients recovering within a week.

Health officials are urging residents to take precautions to reduce mosquito exposure, including eliminating standing water and using insect repellents, as the risk of local transmission increases.