Florida health authorities have sounded the alarm on the increased cases of dengue, particularly in South Florida.
As of the week concluding on August 5, Miami-Dade County reported four local cases of the disease, marking its debut in Broward County, as highlighted by a Florida Health publication.
So far this year, the state has seen a total of 10 cases of this mosquito-propagated ailment. These instances started surfacing in January and March and witnessed a resurgence during the summer months.
In a statement, Florida Health Broward County said that Dengue is not usually present in Florida and that it is introduced to the region when infected travelers come into contact with local mosquitoes.
This uptick in dengue comes on the heels of the state’s health officials cautioning the public about an increasing count of locally contracted malaria cases, an occurrence not seen since 2003.
History of Dengue in Florida
The span between 2010 and 2022 saw over 33,000 local dengue cases in the U.S, according to CDC records.
While annual cases have been below 1,000 since 2014, the year 2022 marked a break from this trend, registering cases in the thousands.
More on mosquito-borne illnesses in Florida
Symptoms of Dengue
The dengue virus is primarily transmitted by infected Aedes species mosquitoes.
Dengue can result from one of four distinct viruses. Though individuals can be infected several times throughout their life, about one in four people will exhibit mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, and bodily pains, lasting for a duration of two to seven days.
Efforts to combat mosquito-borne diseases
To mitigate the threat of diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, Florida Health suggests routine draining and cleaning of water accumulation sites.
They also emphasize the importance of protective clothing and the use of insect repellents.
