NewsDesk @bactiman63

In a follow-up on the local transmission of dengue fever in Miami-Dade County, Florida, The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade County (DOH-Miami-Dade) remains under a mosquito-borne illness advisory following the confirmation of an identified case of dengue in a Miami-Dade resident. This is the third local case of dengue infection in 2022.

Aedes aegypti mosquito feeding on a human host/CDC

This is not the first time local transmission of dengue fever has been reported in the state of Florida. In 2009 -2010, an outbreak of dengue was identified in Key West. A total 22 persons were identified with dengue fever in Key West during the summer and fall of 2009. In 2010, 66 cases of locally acquired dengue associated with Key West were reported in Florida with onset dates between March and November 2010.

Until 2009, there were no reports of dengue acquired in Florida since 1934.

Several transient dengue introductions have been identified in Florida since the Key West outbreak. There was also a Martin County outbreak in 2013 when 28 cases were reported. In 2020, dengue transmission was detected in Key Largo.

In addition to the three locally-acquired dengue fever cases in Miami-Dade, 137 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported year to date.

Counties reporting cases were: Brevard, Broward (9), Collier, Duval (4), Escambia, Hendry, Hillsborough (13), Lee (4), Manatee (2), Miami-Dade (81), Monroe (2), Orange (4), Osceola, Palm Beach (3), Pinellas (3), Polk (3), Sarasota, St. Johns, and St. Lucie (2). Four cases were reported in non-Florida residents.

The Mosquito: A Human History of Our Deadliest Predator

Dengue fever  is caused by four related dengue viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3, DEN-4) that are related to the viruses that cause West Nile infection and yellow fever.

Dengue is a disease caused by a virus spread through mosquito bites. The disease can take up to 2 weeks to develop with illness generally lasting less than a week.

Health effects from dengue include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle and joint pain, and minor bleeding.

Dengue can become severe within a few hours. Severe dengue is a medical emergency, usually requiring hospitalization.

In severe cases, health effects can include hemorrhage (uncontrolled bleeding), shock (seriously low blood pressure), organ failure, and death.