(SQAUK) — Two people in the Florida Keys have been diagnosed with dengue fever after being bitten by local mosquitoes, leading to a health alert in the area. The U.S. CDC has warned about the increased risk of dengue fever nationwide, citing the rise in global cases due to flooding.
Symptoms of dengue fever include severe muscle and joint pain, fever, and sometimes a rash.
The cases in the Keys were not linked to travel, suggesting that the disease is being transmitted locally. Other counties in Florida have also reported similar cases.
Advisory
- Health alert issued: Two people in the Florida Keys have contracted dengue fever from infected mosquitoes, prompting local officials to issue a health alert.
- CDC advisory: The alert follows a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory about increased dengue infection risks in the U.S. due to a global surge in cases.
- Symptoms: Dengue fever symptoms include flu-like signs such as severe muscle aches, joint pain, fever, and occasionally a rash.
- Transmission: The Aedes aegypti mosquito species is responsible for spreading dengue through bites.
- Local transmission: The dengue cases in the Keys were locally acquired, meaning the infections were not linked to travel.
- Other affected areas: According to state data, Miami-Dade, Pasco, and Hillsborough counties have also reported locally acquired dengue cases this year.
