Orange County issued a public health alert Friday morning for dengue fever, a mosquito-borne illness, after the Florida Department of Health confirmed two new, locally acquired cases in Apopka.
The first case was confirmed in Orange County in the Pine Hills area on Sept. 2. The illness is not contagious, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, pregnant people may pass it along to their baby during pregnancy or childbirth.
Dengue fever, also known as breakbone fever, is primarily transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. Although it can be painful, it is rarely fatal. Symptoms may include high fever, muscle and joint pain, pain behind the eyes, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, swollen glands and severe headache.
At least 152 cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in Florida this year as of Thursday. Roughly 90 percent of those cases have been concentrated in Hillsborough County.
“We are conducting targeted control measures and enhanced surveillance in Pine Hills, Apopka, and throughout Orange County,” Orange County Mosquito Control manager Steve Harrison said in a statement Friday.
“While CDC guidance calls for targeted treatment of areas of concern, we are taking additional measures,” he added. “Given the increased dengue fever cases we are seeing in other parts of Florida, we want to be proactive to reduce the risk of further local transmission in Orange County.”
Taking a proactive approach
Dengue fever is typically found in people who have traveled to countries with a higher risk for dengue, such as Cuba, and South American and Caribbean countries, according to the CDC and WUSF.
But the confirmed cases in Orange County were locally acquired, according to county staff. So the disease was transmitted through mosquito bites that occurred locally.
Orange County Mosquito Control, for its part, recently began using new mosquito-borne illness detection technology, according to county staff. This technology uses molecular testing to analyze the genetic material of specific viruses in mosquito samples. It allows the county to identify cases more rapidly.
“Previously, we had to send samples outside of the laboratory,” said Harrison. “Now, we can potentially have results in the same day, which will lead to faster responses and mitigation efforts.”
Preventing dengue fever
The CDC recommends protecting oneself against mosquito bites to reduce the risk of being bitten by an infected insect. Prevention strategies include wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants; using insect repellent; and being mindful of dengue fever risk when traveling (domestically or abroad).
About 1 in 4 people who contract dengue fever will get sick, according to the CDC. Symptoms typically begin within four to 10 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito, and may last anywhere from two to seven days.
Warning signs of severe dengue, however, may begin within 24 to 48 hours of your fever going away. Signs of a severe case may include vomiting at least three times within 24 hours, bleeding from the nose or gums, vomiting blood, unusual irritability or restlessness, and belly pain or tenderness.
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