The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a health alert regarding the risk of dengue fever infections in the United States. This alert comes after an increase in dengue fever cases across the country, attributed to higher than usual cases reported globally due to hot temperatures creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes to spread the disease.
As of now, there have been a total of 2,241 reported cases in the U.S. this year, with most cases being travel-related. Puerto Rico has declared a public health emergency with nearly 1,500 cases reported, while Florida has the highest number of cases in the continental U.S., primarily in Miami-Dade County. Palm Beach County has reported 13 cases, all of which are travel-related. As of Wednesday morning, there have been no reported cases in neighboring counties.
Dengue fever symptoms can occur within a few days of being bitten by an infected mosquito but may take up to two weeks to develop. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, rash, and body pain, while severe cases can lead to shock, internal bleeding, and even death. Dengue is spread through mosquito bites and there is currently no widely available vaccine to prevent infection.
The best way to prevent dengue is to protect yourself from mosquito bites by keeping skin covered when outdoors and wearing loose-fitting clothing that allows air circulation around your body’s exposed skin areas. Additionally, using insect repellent containing DEET or Picaridin can be effective at deterring mosquito bites when applied correctly according to product instructions. Eliminating standing water around your home where mosquitoes breed is also important as it reduces their population size and prevents them from spreading further into your community or neighborhood area.
Overall it’s essential for individuals traveling this summer season to be cautious about their surroundings and avoid areas where mosquito populations are high or where they are known to transmit diseases like dengue fever.