Mosquito chew spreads dengue fever to Hillsborough County resident for first time this yr

TAMPA, Fla. – A confirmed case of regionally acquired dengue fever in Hillsborough County has sparked an pressing public well being response, with county officers and the Florida Division of Well being warning residents to take precautions in opposition to mosquitoes.

Dengue fever in Hillsborough County

What we all know:

The case, reported on Monday, has prompted a speedy response from Hillsborough County Mosquito Administration, which is conducting focused spraying operations for 3 to 4 consecutive nights and canvassing the encircling space on foot.

“Often, the place there’s one, there’s a number of,” mentioned Gabriella Henderson, with Hillsborough County Mosquito Administration. “That’s why we conduct our remedy so quickly.”

Contaminated mosquitoes can rapidly unfold the virus in the event that they chew somebody carrying it. 

“If any person has the virus, and so they get bit by one or two or three mosquitoes, these mosquitoes can get contaminated after which chew different folks,” Henderson defined.

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Crews are gathering and testing mosquitoes, whereas urging residents to examine their properties for potential breeding grounds like standing water in chicken baths, pet bowls, and clogged gutters.

By the numbers:

Hillsborough County sometimes reviews fewer than 10 circumstances of dengue fever yearly. This yr’s first case is important as a result of it was regionally acquired, not travel-related.

Statewide, the Division of Well being continues to observe for different mosquito-borne illnesses, together with West Nile virus, Jap equine encephalitis, malaria, and chikungunya.

What’s Dengue fever? 

Dig deeper:

Dengue fever is a viral sickness unfold by contaminated mosquitoes and infrequently described as a painful flu-like an infection.

“They are saying the muscle aches are so dangerous, principally you lie in mattress, and it hurts to blink,” mentioned Dr. Thomas Unnasch, a USF Emeritus Professor of World Well being.

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Unnasch mentioned most circumstances are delicate and resolve in a number of days, however some folks can develop critical problems.

“With dengue shock syndrome and hemorrhagic fever, what occurs is you get a very robust drop in blood stress and your platelets all get worn out, which causes you principally to spontaneously bleed,” Dr. Unnasch mentioned.

Tips on how to decrease danger of Dengue fever

What you are able to do:

To scale back the danger of an infection, residents are being urged to observe this recommendation:

• Drain water from rubbish cans, home gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or every other containers the place sprinkler or rainwater has collected
• Discard previous tires, bottles, pots, damaged home equipment, and different gadgets not getting used
• Empty and clear birdbaths and pet water bowls at the least twice every week
• Defend boats and autos from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water
• Cowl with protecting clothes whereas outside and maintain doorways and home windows closed to stop mosquitoes from going indoors.
• Put on footwear, socks, lengthy pants, and lengthy sleeves whereas outside when and the place mosquitoes are most prevalent to discourage mosquitoes from biting
• Deal with clothes and kit with merchandise containing .5% permethrin. Don’t apply permethrin on to pores and skin. Some sportswear and kit come pre-treated with permethrin
• Examine and restore screens on doorways and home windows. Preserve them closed and use air con when attainable
• Be sure that window screens are in good restore to scale back the possibility of mosquitoes indoors

What they’re saying:

“It solely takes that little little bit of water,” Henderson mentioned. “So going round your yard — dumping out something that’s holding water a few times every week [is essential].”

The Division of Well being additionally reminds residents to report useless birds, which might point out different mosquito-borne diseases, through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Fee’s web site.

What’s subsequent:

Resulting from privateness legal guidelines, officers will not be disclosing the precise location of the confirmed case, however mosquito management groups are already spraying affected areas. They be aware that the odor from remedies is regular and protected.

Hillsborough County well being officers are encouraging anybody experiencing flu-like signs, muscle aches, fever, or rash to hunt medical consideration and report potential publicity.