Many in the U.S. are unfamiliar with dengue fever. This nasty tropical disease recently turned up in Key West. Symptoms may include headaches, fever, joint and muscle pain, and bloody urine. Although this disease is not often fatal, it's definitely unpleasant. For those with other health problems or a compromised immune system, it can be downright dangerous.
In upstate New York during the fall of 2009, a knowledgeable doctor diagnosed dengue fever in a patient. That patient had recently come home from Key West. Health officials in the county and state were alerted as well as the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Investigations turned up nearly 2 dozen cases in Key West. These victims survived and the outbreak died down temporarily. April of 2010 saw yet another case of dengue fever. The total is now 28 cases.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. There is no cure. Prevention is the key - through mosquito control and personal protection. Patients typically recover on their own. But occasionally the illness turns into dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the world. It causes up to 100 million infections and 25,000 deaths each year. Until this recent outbreak, Florida had not seen a case of dengue fever in 66 years. In fact the U.S. hasn't seen many cases since 1945 except for sporadic outbreaks on the Mexican border and one case in Hawaii in 2001.
Infectious disease specialists have been expecting dengue fever in the southern U.S. Two mosquitoes common to the southeastern U.S. are known carriers of the virus. Dengue cases in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean quadrupled between 1989 and 2007. A single infected traveler returning from the Caribbean, South America or Asia could trigger an outbreak.
Several factors for the increase in dengue fever have been listed by the CDC, including an increase in mosquito breeding areas, rapid urbanization, increasing international travel and a lack of effective mosquito control measures.
No one knows exactly what caused the outbreak in Key West. But the necessary components were there. There are lots of travelers, the right kinds of mosquitoes, lots of available skin to bite, and lots of places for mosquitoes to breed. Officials suggest that mosquito control may have been a bit slack as well. The best protection is prevention. Mosquito control begins with preventing breeding, tough to do in Florida's rainy season. Use of a good mosquito repellent is the second layer of protection.
In upstate New York during the fall of 2009, a knowledgeable doctor diagnosed dengue fever in a patient. That patient had recently come home from Key West. Health officials in the county and state were alerted as well as the CDC (Center for Disease Control). Investigations turned up nearly 2 dozen cases in Key West. These victims survived and the outbreak died down temporarily. April of 2010 saw yet another case of dengue fever. The total is now 28 cases.
Dengue fever is caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. There is no cure. Prevention is the key - through mosquito control and personal protection. Patients typically recover on their own. But occasionally the illness turns into dengue hemorrhagic fever or dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Dengue fever is the most common mosquito-borne disease in the world. It causes up to 100 million infections and 25,000 deaths each year. Until this recent outbreak, Florida had not seen a case of dengue fever in 66 years. In fact the U.S. hasn't seen many cases since 1945 except for sporadic outbreaks on the Mexican border and one case in Hawaii in 2001.
Infectious disease specialists have been expecting dengue fever in the southern U.S. Two mosquitoes common to the southeastern U.S. are known carriers of the virus. Dengue cases in South America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean quadrupled between 1989 and 2007. A single infected traveler returning from the Caribbean, South America or Asia could trigger an outbreak.
Several factors for the increase in dengue fever have been listed by the CDC, including an increase in mosquito breeding areas, rapid urbanization, increasing international travel and a lack of effective mosquito control measures.
No one knows exactly what caused the outbreak in Key West. But the necessary components were there. There are lots of travelers, the right kinds of mosquitoes, lots of available skin to bite, and lots of places for mosquitoes to breed. Officials suggest that mosquito control may have been a bit slack as well. The best protection is prevention. Mosquito control begins with preventing breeding, tough to do in Florida's rainy season. Use of a good mosquito repellent is the second layer of protection.
About the Author:
If you have a mosquito control problems in Tampa, contact Florida Bug Inspectors. Russ Frank, the owner, has been solving all types of pest problems for 25 years.
No comments:
Post a Comment