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‘Breakbone fever’ endemic to tropical countries has spiked 359% in the US

Nypost · · 579 words · By Reda Wigle
Climate change impacts Public Health Crisis
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‘Breakbone fever’ endemic to tropical countries has spiked 359% in the US See more of our coverage in your search results.

Claims checked 15
Techniques found 2
Topics 2

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left0%
Center67%
Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

‘Breakbone fever’ endemic to tropical countries has spiked 359% in the US See more of our coverage in your search results.

Why it matters

Add The New York Post on GoogleCases of a mosquito-borne disease once largely confined to tropical regions are spiking.

Common ground

According to a recent report from the CDC, a record number of cases of dengue were reported in the US in 2024, resulting in a 359% increase in incidence of the fearsome fever.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/29/health/breakbone-fever-has-spiked-359-in-the-us/

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 2 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning
Loaded Language 90% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.
warning
Appeal to Fear 80% confidence
Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.
Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.
Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 15 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

schedule Pending 5
check_circle Corroborated 4
info Single Source 2
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
report Misleading 1
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Claim 1: “Since 2000, there’s been a global surge in dengue cases, peaking in 2024 at over 14 million”
CORROBORATED
One source explicitly states 14.1 million cases were reported globally in 2024, surpassing the 7 million in 2023. The WHO source confirms a massive surge (7.6 million by April 2024), supporting the trajectory.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — On 19 July 2024, the American cybersecurity company CrowdStrike distributed a faulty update to its Falcon Sensor security software that caused widespread problems with Microsoft Windows computers runn…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_CrowdStrike-related_IT_ou…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — A global computer memory supply shortage started in 2024 due to supply constraints and rapid price escalation in the semiconductor memory market, particularly affecting DRAM and NAND flash memory. Thi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024–present_global_memory_sup…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mister Global 2024 was the 10th edition of the Mister Global competition and the first edition under the ownership of TPN Global, held at the MCC Hall The Mall Bangkapi in Bangkok, Thailand, on 6 Octo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mister_Global_2024
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 2: “Dengue is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, the same damnable species that spreads Zika, yellow fever and several other viruses.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and the WHO confirm that dengue is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which also spread Zika and yellow fever.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue virus, prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Most cases of dengue fever are either asymptomatic or manifest mild symptoms. [8][7] Sympt…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Use repellent, control mosquitoes, and take other steps to prevent mosquito bites that spread dengue. Vital guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dengue for healthcare providers. Cons…
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/index.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Aug 21, 2025 · Dengue is a viral infection caused by the dengue virus (DENV), which is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. About half of the world's population is now at ris…
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/dengue-and-…
schedule
Claim 3: “Infants under 1 year old, senior citizens or people with certain medical conditions are considered at higher risk of contracting severe disease.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
schedule
Claim 4: “There are four distinct dengue strains, and surviving one infection confers immunity only to that strain.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
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Claim 5: “a record number of cases of dengue were reported in the US in 2024, resulting in a 359% increase in incidence”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent web search results confirm that 2024 saw a record 3,798 cases in the US, representing a 359% increase over the 2010-2023 average.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne disease caused by dengue virus, prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. Most cases of dengue fever are either asymptomatic or manifest mild symptoms. Symptoms typ…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_fever
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dengue vaccine is a vaccine used to prevent dengue fever in humans. Development of dengue vaccines began in the 1920s but was hindered by the need to create immunity against all four dengue serotypes.…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_vaccine
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Dengue virus (DENV) is the cause of dengue fever. It is a mosquito-borne, single positive-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae; genus Orthoflavivirus. Four serotypes of the virus have been f…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dengue_virus
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 6: “According to the CDC, 3,798 cases of dengue were reported in 2024, compared to the annual average of 828 from 2010 to 2023.”
CORROBORATED
The specific numbers (3,798 cases in 2024 vs 828 annual average) are consistently reported across multiple sources citing the CDC.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Influenza A virus, or IAV, is a pathogen with strains that cause seasonal flu in humans; it can also infect birds and some mammals. Strains of IAV circulate constantly in bats, pigs, horses, and dogs,…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza_A_virus
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ivermectin is an antiparasitic medication. After its discovery in 1975, its first uses were in veterinary medicine to prevent and treat heartworm and acariasis. Approved for human use in 1987, it is u…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivermectin
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Meningococcal vaccine refers to any vaccine used to prevent infection by Neisseria meningitidis. Different versions are effective against some or all of the following types of meningococcus: A, B, C, …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meningococcal_vaccine
+ 3 more evidence sources
schedule
Claim 7: “the Aedes mosquito is found in roughly half of the country’s counties, with 75% of those counties having climates that allow the insect to flourish.”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 8: “the majority of 2024’s cases were travel-related (97.2%), the remaining 2.8% were locally acquired”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general increase in cases is corroborated, the specific percentage breakdown (97.2% travel-related vs 2.8% local) appears in only one primary report and its derivatives in the provided evidence.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — .us is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for the United States. It was established in February 1985. Registrants of us domains must be U.S. citizens, residents, or organizations – or …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.us
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — This Is Us is an American drama television series created by Dan Fogelman that aired on NBC from September 20, 2016, to May 24, 2022. The series follows the lives and families of two parents and their…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Is_Us
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Us, us, uS, or US commonly refers to: Us (pronoun), the objective case of the English first-person plural pronoun we U.S., an abbreviation for the United States Us, us, uS, or US may also refer to:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Us
+ 3 more evidence sources
help
Claim 9: “There was also a 2024 outbreak in New Jersey, sickening dozens of people.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding a 2024 outbreak in New Jersey.
schedule
Claim 10: “According to the CDC, about 1 in 20 people infected with dengue contract a more severe form of the infection”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
check_circle
Claim 11: “Of these cases, over a third of patients were hospitalized, and six died.”
CORROBORATED
Two independent sources confirm that approximately one-third (36.1%) of patients were hospitalized and six deaths were reported.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2024 United States House of Representatives elections were held on November 5, 2024, to elect the 435 representatives of the United States House of Representatives, as well as 6 non-voting delegat…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_House_of_Re…
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Elections were held in the United States on November 5, 2024. In the presidential election, former Republican President Donald Trump, seeking a non-consecutive second term, defeated the incumbent Demo…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_elections
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Presidential elections were held in the United States on November 5, 2024. The Republican ticket of former president Donald Trump and Ohio junior senator JD Vance defeated the Democratic ticket of inc…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidentia…
+ 3 more evidence sources
report
Claim 12: “The majority of these cases were reported in the Caribbean (34.1%), North America (24.3%) and Central America (15.6%).”
MISLEADING
The claim presents these percentages as the distribution of *global* cases, but the evidence shows these percentages (34.1% Caribbean, etc.) refer specifically to the *travel-associated cases within the US*, not the global total.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 14, 2026 · This report describes an increase in dengue cases reported during 2024.
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7518a1.htm
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 14, 2026 · Among travel-associated cases, acquisition occurred primarily in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin. Islands) (34.1%), ...
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/pdfs/mm7518a1-H.pdf
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Among travel-associated cases, acquisition occurred primarily in the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands) (34.1%), North America ( ...
https://discovery.researcher.life/article/increase-in-travel…
help
Claim 13: “In Florida, California and Texas, infections were documented in several counties”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding specific counties in Florida, California, and Texas.
schedule
Claim 14: “There are no known medications to treat the virus”
PENDING
This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.
info
Claim 15: “In 2024, over 100 locally acquired cases were reported in the US.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence mentions the total number of cases (3,798) and that 2.8% were locally acquired (which would be ~106 cases), but no source explicitly confirms 'over 100 locally acquired cases' as a stated fact in the text provided.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 14, 2026 ... During 2024, a total of 3,798 dengue cases, including 2,252 (59.3%) confirmed and 1,546 (40.7%) probable cases, were reported to CDC from the 50 ...
https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/75/wr/mm7518a1.htm
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — 4 days ago ... Current year, preliminary data of dengue cases reported to CDC by U.S. states and territories.
https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/data-research/facts-stats/current…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 30, 2024 ... As of 30 April 2024, over 7.6 million dengue cases have been reported to WHO in 2024, including 3.4 million confirmed cases, over 16 000 severe cases, and over ...
https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2…
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.