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Dengue in Michigan
Currently, 2024 has the highest reported number of dengue cases among Michigan residents, with more cases reported between January and May 2024 than the entire year of 2023. This pattern was also observed across all of the United States.
Historically, Michigan residents have reported more dengue fever cases in the third quarter of the year, likely due to an increase in travel during the summer months. In 2024, there has been a notable increase in cases earlier in the year. Dengue cases tend to be higher in regions experiencing summer, whether in the Southern or Northern Hemisphere. Summer occurs in the Southern Hemisphere from November to February and in the Northern Hemisphere from June to September. Travelers have a higher risk of being infected with dengue if they travel to these areas during their corresponding summer season.
Number of dengue cases among Michigan residents by year.
It is important for public health officials, healthcare providers, and travelers to collaborate in mitigating the impact of dengue. For travelers, preventing mosquito bites remains the best defense against dengue. This includes using effective mosquito repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing, and staying in accommodations with adequate mosquito control measures. By increasing awareness, public health can help mitigate the risk of dengue infection, reduce the incidence among travelers, and protect the health of Michigan residents.
Additional dengue travel health information:
Additional emerging topics in travel health:
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Health and Economic Benefits of Routine Childhood Immunizations in the Era of the VFC Program MMWR
Abstract
Since 1994, the U.S. Vaccines for Children (VFC) program has covered the cost of vaccines for children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford vaccines. This report assessed and quantified the health benefits and economic impact of routine U.S. childhood immunizations among both VFC-eligible and non–VFC-eligible children born during 1994–2023. Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine; Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine; oral and inactivated poliovirus vaccines; measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; varicella vaccine; pneumococcal conjugate vaccine; hepatitis A vaccine; and rotavirus vaccine were included. Averted illnesses and deaths and associated costs over the lifetimes of 30 annual cohorts of children born during 1994–2023 were estimated using established economic models. Net savings were calculated from the payer and societal perspectives. Among approximately 117 million children born during 1994–2023, routine childhood vaccinations will have prevented approximately 508 million lifetime cases of illness, 32 million hospitalizations, and 1,129,000 deaths, at a net savings of $540 billion in direct costs and $2.7 trillion in societal costs. From both payer and societal perspectives, routine childhood vaccinations among children born during 1994–2023 resulted in substantial cost savings. Childhood immunizations continue to provide substantial health and economic benefits, while promoting health equity.
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Sharable social media graphic.
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Templates for Children’s Environmental Health
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), created four Community Action Plan (CAP) templates to help health agencies tackle children's environmental health challenges. Jurisdictions can customize the templates for specific needs related to air quality, climate, environmental justice, and lead poisoning.
Chemical Preparedness Handbook
A new Chemical Preparedness Handbook for Local Health Departments (LHDs), developed by the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), in partnership with the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), is designed to assist LHDs in developing effective public health emergency preparedness and response plans for low-probability, high-risk chemical incidents. The handbook contains information on chemical incident planning and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. It also contains several planning checklists with recommended steps and actions for LHDs to consider when developing preparedness plans tailored to the specific needs of their community.
Continuity Guidance Circular
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA 's) Office of National Continuity Programs recently updated the Continuity Guidance Circular (CGC). The circular is designed to assist in enhancing jurisdictional continuity plans and capabilities, and aligning those plans and capabilities, with national continuity doctrine.
OMH's Language Access Plan
The Office of Minority Health (OMH) has released its 2024-2026 Language Access Plan. The plan outlines strategies to advance language access in their policies, programs, and operations. It also solidifies OMH’s commitment to facilitating meaningful access to resources for persons with limited English proficiency (LEP).
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Upcoming Training in Michigan
Multiple training opportunities across the state of Michigan are now available through MI-TRAIN, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), and the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC). These courses include:
- MGT-319 Medical Countermeasures: Points of Dispensing (POD), Planning and Response
- PER-344 Social Media Tools and Techniques
- PER-343 Social Media Engagement Strategies
- MGT-439 Pediatric Disaster Response and Emergency Preparedness
- AWR-351 REP-Post-Plume Awareness
- MGT-439 Pediatric Disaster Response and Emergency Preparedness
- AWR-317 Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP)-Core Concepts
- MGT-445 REP-Plan Review
- PER-316 PER-Radiation Accident
- MGT-341 Disaster Preparedness for Healthcare Organizations within the Community Infrastructure
- PER-314 REP-Exercise Evaluator Course
Michigan Local Public Health Association's (MALPH's) Michigan Premier Public Health Conference (MPPHC) aims to bring together professionals across the state to share their knowledge and strategies on health equity, environmental health, infectious disease control, workforce development, and other topics that contribute to the health and safety of Michigan communities.
Register: by September 12
Dates: October 14 - 16
Location: Delta Hotels by Marriott Muskegon Convention Center
939 3rd Street
Muskegon, MI
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The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS and Systems of Care (BEPESoC), within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of Michigan's citizens and communities.
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This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement number 1NU90TP922062-01-00, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bureau of Emergency Preparedness, EMS and Systems of Care | 1001 Terminal Rd, Lansing, MI 48906 | 517-335-8150
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