Dengue fever in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas: medical anthropology and public health

The Dengue virus is transmitted by two Aedes species of mosquito. Both are present in the U.S. and Mexico. The presence of these vectors causes concern that the dengue pathogen is spreading into the U.S. across the Texas/Mexico border. Outbreaks have occurred in South Texas since 1980. Yet, Texas has not experienced a dengue epidemic, although Mexico has. An epidemic in Texas is possible in the near future. This paper focuses on an anthropological approach to the viral infection and spread of dengue. It suggests that human behavior, monetary status, culture and education all appear to contribute to high risk among the Mexican-American populations in the Brownsville area.