DOral, Fla. – Florida has issued a dengue fever alert as cases continue to spread locally and further afield.
During the week ending Aug. 5, four cases were reported in Miami-Dade County and the first case was reported in Broward County, according to the Florida Department of Health.
The report also revealed that a total of 10 cases have been detected in the state this year. The first reports were made in January and March, and then returned this summer.
Looking at the data, the evolution of mosquito-borne diseases in Florida appears to have been worsening over the years, with more than 33,000 local dengue cases in the U.S. between 2010 and 2022, according to the CDC. There have been fewer than 1,000 cases a year since 2014, but 2022 marks the first time in nearly a decade that cases have reached four figures.
“Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes and is not normally present in Florida. However, infected travelers can bring the virus back to Florida mosquitoes,” the Broward County Health Department in Florida said in a statement. stated in the statement.
The dengue warning was issued alongside prevention tips to avoid a continued rise in cases across the state as summer continues and people often gather outdoors.
To prevent bites, the Florida Department of Health recommends draining, emptying, and cleaning any standing water. Also, it is very important to cover yourself and use insect repellent when outdoors.
If by any chance you do end up with the disease, know that there is no treatment other than rest, drinking plenty of fluids, and taking acetaminophen to manage symptoms. The CDC advises the public not to take aspirin or ibuprofen because they can cause gastritis or bleeding.
Symptoms in about a quarter of people are usually mild and last two to seven days. These include fever; rash; nausea; vomiting; muscle, joint and bone pain.
However, about one in 20 people will develop severe dengue, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and even death, although death is rare, the CDC says.
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