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U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell this week wrote to Secretary of State John Kerry urging U.S. assistance with the public health emergency in Yemen, where an outbreak of dengue fever has infected as many as 3,000 people.

Dingell, whose district includes a large Yemeni-American community, said many constituents are reporting that family members in Yemen suffering from dengue fever have no access to medication, medical care or, in some cases, even clean drinking water.

“U.S. leadership is required to contain this outbreak and ensure that patients receive the treatment they need,” Dingell wrote in the letter. “The people of Yemen need assistance now to combat this deadly disease.”

The World Health Organization has reported more than 3,000 cases of dengue fever in Yemen, but some other groups’ estimates are at least two times those figures, with the greatest concentration of cases in Aden, a city of about 1 million. A growing number of measles cases has also been reported.

A U.N. report this week said 590 have died from the disease.

The dengue virus, transmitted by mosquitoes, is a leading cause of illness and death in the tropics, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. The CDC says while there’s no vaccine or specific medication for treatment of dengue, patients often need fluids, monitoring by a physician and, in the most severe cases, hospitalization.

“A negotiated solution to the ongoing conflict is the best way to address this emerging public health crisis in Yemen,” Dingell wrote to Kerry.

“I applaud your efforts in starting a dialogue with the Saudis, the UN, and other relevant parties to find a peaceful solution to this conflict. However, the people of Yemen need assistance now to combat this outbreak of dengue fever.”

She asked Kerry for details on whether the State Department plans to ship hydrating fluids or other supplies to Yemen and how much of American assistance to Yemen is dedicated to improving public health.

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