Florida counties on alert as cases of dengue rise
The Florida Department of Health has issued a mosquito-borne illness alert for Broward and Miami-Dade counties as the number of dengue cases continues to rise. Within a month, five cases of locally acquired dengue have been reported in the two counties. Overall, Florida has seen 11 cases of locally acquired dengue this year, along with 204 travel-associated cases. Texas has also reported a single case of dengue, with previous cases reported in Hawaii and Arizona in recent years.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne virus that is primarily spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also carries other viruses such as yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika. The virus is endemic in more than 100 countries, primarily in tropical and subtropical climates in urban and semi-urban areas. Dengue is also prevalent in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and American Samoa. In the US, over 33,000 locally acquired cases have been reported between 2010 and 2022, with 258 cases in Florida. However, the majority of cases (95%) occur in Puerto Rico.
Symptoms of dengue include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and muscle or joint pain. Severe dengue, although less common, can lead to shock, internal bleeding, and death, with approximately 100 million people falling ill and 40,000 dying from severe cases every year. If individuals fall sick in an area where dengue is spreading or have recently traveled to an endemic area, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends consulting a doctor for diagnosis through blood testing.
In terms of prevention, the CDC advises the use of EPA-registered insect repellents and the wearing of long-sleeved shirts and pants to minimize mosquito bites. The Aedes aegypti mosquito tends to breed in standing water found in containers such as birdbaths, plant saucers, and tires, so removing these breeding grounds can reduce exposure. Unlu and Paz-Bailey also emphasize the importance of disease surveillance through mosquito traps, testing, and research to control the spread of dengue and other mosquito-borne illnesses.
The US Food and Drug Administration approved the Dengvaxia vaccine for dengue in 2019, but it is only recommended for children aged 9 to 16 who have laboratory-confirmed evidence of a dengue infection and live in areas where dengue is endemic or regularly occurring. There is currently no dengue vaccine available for adults in the US, and no specific medicine to treat dengue exists. Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen can help ease symptoms, but aspirin and ibuprofen are not recommended due to the risk of hemorrhaging.
Climate change is also expected to contribute to the spread of dengue worldwide, as higher temperatures create more favorable conditions for mosquito survival, replication, and transmission. Efforts to control mosquito populations and raise public awareness about dengue prevention are crucial in mitigating the impact of the virus.