Dengue Fever Outbreak Leads to Emergency Declarations in Three Florida Counties

<p>Three Florida counties have declared states of emergency due to the spread of dengue fever in the state. As of September 23, Pasco County, Hillsborough County, and Pinellas County made the declarations according to each county’s news release.</p><p>The local emergency declarations allow county officials to expedite mosquito-control operations, make emergency purchases, coordinate response efforts, and seek state or federal assistance or reimbursement where applicable, the releases state.</p><p>Under Florida law, local emergency declarations expire after seven days unless renewed.</p><p>A total of 190 locally acquired dengue cases have been confirmed across six Florida counties, according to the latest Florida Department of Health surveillance report, which covered cases with onset through September 19. Of the 190 locally acquired cases, 170 were reported in Hillsborough County, seven each in Miami-Dade and Pinellas counties, three in Orange County, two in Pasco County, and one in Palm Beach County.</p><p>The 190 locally acquired infections are separate from travel-associated dengue cases reported in Florida this year.</p><p>Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can cause fever, severe aches, nausea, rash, and, in rare cases, life-threatening complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dengue is endemic in many tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, the Western Pacific islands, Latin America, and Africa. Although less common in the continental U.S., locally acquired cases have been recorded in Florida, California, and Texas.</p><p>The Aedes mosquitoes that can transmit dengue are active during the day and thrive in warm, humid environments like those found in Florida, according to an entomologist spokesperson at the SC Johnson Center for Insect Science and Family Health. The spokesperson emphasized the importance of preventing mosquito bites as dengue cases continue to be reported in the Tampa area.</p><p>The Florida Mosquito Control Association (FMCA) has indicated that crews are increasing aerial and ground treatments in areas showing dengue virus activity and inspecting private properties for potential mosquito breeding sites. FMCA has urged residents to empty or cover standing water around their homes, as the mosquito that spreads dengue is a container breeder, laying eggs in objects that collect small amounts of water.</p><p>Many people infected with dengue have no symptoms, and most who do become sick recover within a week or two, according to Mayo Clinic. However, in some cases, the illness can progress to severe dengue, a potentially life-threatening condition. Symptoms typically begin four to ten days after the bite of an infected mosquito, with warning signs developing quickly after the fever subsides.</p><p>People experiencing warning signs of severe dengue should seek immediate medical care.</p>