PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention issued a well being alert Tuesday of the danger of dengue fever infections in the US, together with at the very least 13 instances in Palm Seashore County.
The alert comes from an unexpectedly increased variety of dengue fever instances which were reported throughout the nation, in response to the CDC.
The company stated many nations are reporting increased instances than typical this yr due to sizzling temperatures, which may create superb situations for mosquitoes to unfold the illness.
In keeping with the CDC, most native transmission of dengue in the US occurs in areas the place dengue is frequent, like U.S. territories and freely related states.
Way of life
Well being officers inform US docs to be alert for dengue as instances ramp up worldwide
2:53 PM, Jun 25, 2024
A complete of two,241 instances have been reported up to now this yr within the U.S. Many of the instances reported are travel-related, in response to the CDC.
Within the U.S., Puerto Rico declared a public well being emergency, with almost 1,500 reported instances.
Florida has essentially the most reported instances within the continental U.S. Most of these instances are in Miami-Dade County.
Palm Seashore County has 13 reported instances. All these instances are travel-related.
“Most dengue fevers is acquired via vacationers,” stated Dr. Leslie Diaz, and infectious illness specialist in Palm Seashore County. “Folks that go to areas that’s endemic there. They purchase it by a chunk of a mosquito and so they journey again residence right here.”
As of Wednesday, there have been no reported instances in Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, and Indian River counties.
The CDC stated dengue fever signs can begin inside just a few days of being bitten, however can take two weeks to develop. The most typical signs embrace fever, nausea, rash, and physique ache. Extreme instances may cause shock, inside bleeding, and even loss of life.
“Perhaps one out of 20 instances can current with sepsis. Septic shock,” Diaz stated.
Dengue is unfold via the chunk of an contaminated mosquito. There isn’t a extensively obtainable dengue vaccine to forestall dengue an infection, in response to the CDC. One of the simplest ways to forestall dengue is to guard your self from mosquito bites.
- Hold pores and skin coated when outdoor
- Put on loose-fitting and long-sleeved shirts and pants
- Use insect repellent
- Eliminate standing water round your own home, the place bugs wish to breed
- Be vigilant when touring this summer time
“Consciousness is the important thing,” Diaz stated. “I am gonna put my mosquito repellent on once I go exterior. Or I am gonna put on free, cool clothes which are long-sleeved. These are the issues that it’s important to keep in mind if you journey.”