NewsDesk @bactiman63

Florida

In a follow-up on the dengue fever situation in Florida this year, state health officials reported three additional cases of locally acquired dengue in Miami-Dade County.

Image/CDC

This brings the state total of autochthonous dengue fever in Florida in 2022 to 41 in four counties–Collier, Broward (2), Miami-Dade (37), and Volusia counties.

Thirty-seven of the cases have been serotyped by PCR. Serotypes reported were DENV-3 (36) and DENV-2.

In addition, six hundred and seventy-nine cases with onset in 2022 have been reported in individuals with travel history to a dengue endemic area in the two weeks prior to onset. Counties reporting cases were: Brevard (2), Broward (42), Collier (8), Duval (7), Escambia (2), Flagler, Hendry (2), Hernando (2), Hillsborough (65), Indian River, Lee (24), Leon, Manatee (2), Martin (2), Miami-Dade (455), Monroe (3), Orange (6), Osceola (2), Palm Beach (20), Pasco (2), Pinellas (7), Polk (8), Santa Rosa, Sarasota (4), St. Johns, St. Lucie (6), Suwannee, and Volusia (2).

Seven cases were reported in non-Florida residents. Seven cases met the criteria for severe dengue (dengue shock syndrome [DSS] or dengue hemorrhagic fever [DHF]).

Arizona

The Maricopa County Department of Public Health (MCDPH) has identified one person with dengue fever who might have been exposed by an infected mosquito in Maricopa County.

Routine mosquito surveillance performed by Maricopa County Environmental Services Department (MCESD) has detected the dengue virus in a mosquito trap in one neighborhood in the county.

Maricopa County/ David Benbennick

To learn if other people have been infected in that neighborhood, Public Health teams will be visiting neighborhood residents to offer free, voluntary at-home blood testing. These teams will also include Environmental Services representatives offering information for preventing bites and mosquito breeding around their homes. This is in addition to mosquito testing that MCESD is conducting in traps countywide to look for any other infected mosquitos.

“While previous dengue cases in Maricopa County have been related to travel to countries where dengue commonly occurs, it is important to understand if others could have been exposed or if this is an isolated incident.” said Dr. Nick Staab, medical epidemiologist. “This is in addition to our routine investigations of anyone suspected to have dengue or other mosquito-borne diseases.”

Maricopa County field teams of staff and volunteers will go into the neighborhood to offer dengue testing to residents ages five years and older along with mosquito prevention kits to avoid mosquito bites in the future. The test will identify evidence of infection in the last several months, even if a person has not had symptoms.

“This simple test can provide information that is valuable to our residents and, on a neighborhood level, to Public Health,” added Dr. Staab. “When we look at results of this testing and mosquito testing across the county, we can determine if there is any risk to others and what Public Health, Environmental Services, and other partners can do to prevent illness.”

Homes in the specific neighborhood will receive a postcard on their door notifying them of the upcoming visit, including dates and how to get more information. Field teams will then go door-to-door over the next week to offer the voluntary, at-home testing, prevention kits and provide information on how test results will be shared with those who are tested or with their legal guardians.