Florida warns of Dengue Fever outbreak.
Attention, Florida residents! The state has just issued a warning about dengue fever cases. So far this year, we’ve seen a total of 10 locally acquired cases. It’s time to take precautions!
The Florida Health Department has declared Broward County as a mosquito-borne illness alert zone until the end of the year. This alert comes after two cases of dengue were confirmed in the county.
According to the latest surveillance report from the Florida Health Department, covering the week from July 30 to Aug. 5, Broward County is not the only area affected. Eight other cases were contracted in neighboring Miami-Dade County. This means that both counties are under alert for the virus.
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The Florida Health Department’s alert states, “In 2023, there are 2 locally acquired dengue cases in Broward County. In 2022, there were 2 locally acquired dengue cases.”
Remember, dengue is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito and is not normally present in Florida. However, infected travelers can bring the virus back to Florida mosquitoes.
According to the Florida Health Department’s surveillance report for 2023, 190 dengue cases have been contracted by Florida residents within two weeks after traveling to regions where dengue is endemic. Most of these cases, 130 to be exact, came from people who had traveled to Cuba.
Out of the 190 reported cases in Florida, 43 were reported in the week spanning July 30 to Aug. 5.
Symptoms and Treatment
Dengue, also known as breakbone fever, is a viral infection transmitted from mosquitoes to humans. While many individuals with dengue remain asymptomatic and heal within a couple of weeks, a small percentage progress to severe dengue and require medical attention in a hospital setting.
Mosquitos of the Aedes species (Ae. aegypti or Ae. albopictus) can spread dengue viruses through their bites, and they are also responsible for spreading the Zika and chikungunya viruses.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously warned that cases of dengue could reach record highs this year. Reported cases have increased eight-fold since 2000, reaching 4.2 million cases in 2022.
About half of the world’s population is now at risk, according to Raman Velayudhan, a specialist at the WHO’s Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases department. He stated, “We estimate that about 100 to 400 million cases are reported every year. This is basically an estimate, and the American region alone has reported about 2.8 million cases and 101,280 deaths.” There is also concern about the southern spread of dengue to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru.
According to the WHO, there is no specific treatment for dengue fever, and no direct drug intervention available. However, the disease is usually managed with fever and pain medications. The WHO emphasizes the importance of preventative measures, such as removing places where stagnant water can collect, spraying repellent around buildings, using mosquito coils, and sleeping under nets.
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