While Zika virus dominates the news, Florida has also seen other, related mosquito borne diseases this year via travel.

Let’s start with dengue fever.

Aedes aegypti/CDC
Aedes aegypti/CDC

Forty cases of dengue with onset in 2016 have been reported in individuals with travel history to a dengue endemic country in the two weeks prior to onset. Countries of origin were: Brazil (3), Colombia (3), Costa Rica (5), Cuba (7), Dominican Republic (2), El Salvador, Ghana, Haiti (3), Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica (5), Mexico, Puerto Rico (2), St. Barthelemy, Singapore, and Venezuela (3).

Counties reporting cases were: Alachua (2), Brevard, Broward (8), Clay, Columbia, Hillsborough (2), Lee, Manatee, Miami-Dade (9), Monroe, Orange (5), Pinellas (2), Palm Beach (2), Sarasota, and Seminole (3). Two cases were reported in non-Florida residents.

In addition, one case of locally acquired dengue fever has been reported in Monroe County, with onset in May. This case was reported in a non-Florida resident.

Six cases of chikungunya with onset in 2016 have been reported in individuals with travel history to a chikungunya endemic country in the two weeks prior to onset. Countries of origin were Bahamas/Mexico, Bolivia (2), Brazil (2), and Jamaica. Counties reporting cases were Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Palm Beach (2), and Pinellas.

No local transmission of chikungunya has been reported in 2016 to date.

Concerning Zika, 616 travel associated cases, including 84 cases in pregnant women and 56 locally transmitted cases have been reported.

The countries of origin accounting for the most travel associated cases include Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.

In related news, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced today that it has detected Zika in another mosquito sample from the same small area in Miami Beach, where it was announced on Sept. 1 that three other samples had tested positive for Zika.

All samples have consisted of Aedes aeqypti mosquitoes and are from an area where increased trapping and intensified mosquito control measures have already been underway since the Florida Department of Health determined local transmission had occurred.

“This find underscores the continued need already underway in Miami-Dade to employ an aggressive and comprehensive mosquito control strategy,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Only with a multi-faceted approach to controlling the Zika-carrying mosquito will we be able to protect Floridians and visitors.”

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