The Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County is stepping up surveillance and preemptive measures after confirming a case of locally acquired dengue fever, as detailed in a news release. This has triggered a coordinated effort with the Mosquito Control Division to monitor the situation and treat the impacted areas, in a bid to curb any potential spread of the disease, WPBF reports.
Officials have yet to specify the precise locations under surveillance in Palm Beach County but are strongly advising residents to take proactive steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites. Measures include wearing clothing treated with 0.5% permethrin, applying insect repellent when outside, and removing standing water where mosquitoes breed, especially following recent rains, CBS12 reported.
According to Dr. Larry Bush, an infectious disease specialist at Wellington Regional Medical Center, the usual presentation of dengue includes fever, headaches, and significant pain, particularly behind the eyes. "Most people, they recover quickly, but a small percent of people, particularly less than 10 years old, may get what’s called dengue hemorrhagic fever, with severe abdominal pain, severe bruising and then as the name says, they may have a hemorrhage, mostly in the gastrointestinal track," he detailed in a statement obtained by WPBF.
Preventive strategies to deter dengue, which is typically more common in the southeast United States, focus on sustained vigilance against mosquitoes. The Department of Health recommends the use of insect repellent featuring DEET, which has been attributed with higher protection efficacy, and maintaining screens on windows and doors, WPBF explains. Yet, unlike other types of mosquitoes, the ones that spread dengue fever tend to bite during daytime hours, thus demanding daytime precautions as well.
The origin of the recently reported case in Palm Beach County is thought to be linked to a mosquito biting someone who recently traveled or arrived in the country with the dengue virus already in their bloodstream. The DOH is actively working to prevent further cases, also keeping an eye out for other mosquito-borne illnesses such as West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, and chikungunya. Residents are encouraged to report any dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which assists in tracking the spread of these diseases, as reported by CBS12.
