From The Washington Post:
Florida counties declare emergency over ‘wildly unusual’ dengue outbreak
Mosquito-borne disease has infected hundreds statewide and killed one woman in Tampa.
Florida has reported 392 dengue cases among residents this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including both locally acquired infections and cases linked to travel. Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa and has emerged as the center of the state’s outbreak, has reported 177 cases among residents — a rise a county spokesperson described as “wildly unusual.”
The outbreak has also caused at least one death. Florida health officials confirmed that Gay Small, an 80-year-old Tampa woman, was the first known person to die of dengue in the state this year. She died on Sept. 4 after contracting dengue from a mosquito bite near her home, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Historically, most dengue cases in Florida have been contracted during travel abroad, but the state has seen an unusual surge in locally acquired infections since July.
Hillsborough officials said their declaration allows emergency managers to quickly take actions to protect public health and seek federal reimbursement for certain expenses. Hillsborough has deployed low-flying helicopters to spray affected areas.
Pinellas County’s declaration similarly allows officials to approve mosquito-control spending more quickly and seek reimbursement if state funding becomes available. The county said mosquito-control crews have “elevated” their response, with several treatments planned.
“Our crews are currently going door-to-door near our treatment areas offering to assist residents in finding potential mosquito breeding areas and treat them,” Pinellas officials said.
Dengue is a viral infection spread primarily through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Although the disease is common in tropical and subtropical climates, locally acquired cases also occur in parts of the United States, including Florida.
More than 2,000 dengue cases have been reported in the U.S. this year, most of them in Puerto Rico, according to the CDC. More than 2.2 million infections and nearly 1,200 deaths have been reported worldwide this year, according to the World Health Organization.
Most dengue infections cause no symptoms or mild illness, but some people develop fever, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, or rashes, according to the CDC. In rare cases, the disease can become severe and lead to internal bleeding or death.
To prevent dengue, health officials recommend using insect repellent, wearing clothing that covers the arms and legs, and removing standing water around homes, where mosquitoes can breed.
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