The Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services (LBDHHS) recently confirmed a dengue case involving a resident who has not traveled abroad. As per a public health notice published yesterday, this situation marks the first instance of non-travel-dependent dengue within Long Beach and is only the second report within California, following the identification of a case in Pasadena.
The Long Beach Health Department has emphasized that although the risk of local transmission is low, it is implementing preventive measures against further virus spread. The affected individual has successfully recovered at home, with there being no additional suspected cases identified thus far. The department has notified healthcare providers about dengue symptoms.
Dengue, transmitted primarily by Aedes species mosquitoes, emerges when a mosquito bites an infected person, thereby acquiring the virus and potentially passing it on to others. The Long Beach Health Department's press release lists signs such as high fever, nausea, rash, and joint pain as symptoms that usually persist for two to seven days. Most recover from the illness within two weeks, and fatalities are exceptionally uncommon.
In response to the incident, Mayor Rex Richardson voiced his city's dedication to public health, saying, “We are working closely with health officials to do everything we can to prevent more cases. We ask that everyone do their part by removing any standing water on their property to help us control the mosquitoes in our neighborhoods."
Residents of Long Beach are being advised to employ precautions to control mosquito populations and deter bites. Such preventive measures include the use of DEET, IR3535, or picaridin-based mosquito sprays, wearing loosely fitted, full-length clothing, removing standing water around their residences, and proper maintenance of their yards. Dengue testing of mosquito samples collected by the Department's Vector Control team remains ongoing, with no mosquitoes returning a positive result for dengue so far.
