Outbreak of Dengue Fever in Miami Dade County Florida

Floridas onset of dengue this year was confirmed in Miami-Dade County by the Health Department on Monday. According to a release, the health department is taking every step to control the breed of the mosquito (Aedes aegypti) that carries the virus germ causing dengue.

Each year, several cases are reported in Florida who travels to areas where dengue has commenced, such as the Caribbean, Asia and Central and South America.

CDC states that Miami Mosquito Control Division take the precautionary measures as the Diseases from these bug bites have been almost tripled. Symptoms develop only after3-14 days after the bite of the mosquito carrying infection. The symptoms include high fever accompanied with a headache, muscle and joint pain and skin rashes. 

It takes 3-7 days for recovery of the illness. Sometimes it develops into life-threatening dengue hemorrhagic fever resulting in low-level platelets that result in bleeding, blood plasma leakage, risky low pressure develops.

Vaccination for dengue fever has not been so far discovered. Covering the body with proper clothing and blanket to prevent from the mosquito bites, proper drainage of stagnant water, use of mosquito repellants are some of the measures to prevent the virus from entering the blood through mosquitoes.

The health officials did not give the details of the exact places of attack but only given a health warning to the residents.  They also warn of West Nile Virus spread through mosquitoes that can cause fatal neurological disease. Though vaccines are available for horses, but not for humans.  Birds are the host of West Nile Virus.

The Health Department has raised their concerns over one mosquito that tested positive for West Nile virus earlier this month over the street dwellers, who are more exposed to these dangerous mosquitoes that carry infection. Less than 1% of infected persons of Nile Virus have been affected by the inflammation of the brain and spinal cord.

The Department lay emphasis on the preliminary precautions to limit the exposure to these mosquitoes that includes proper drainage of stagnant water, removing tires that get in the water, wearing long sleeves, pants, thick socks, and using repellents with DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, and IR3535.