Florida: 8 more local dengue cases reported in Miami-Dade County in past week
Florida: 8 more local dengue cases reported in Miami-Dade County in past week
Florida state health officials reported eight additional locally acquired dengue fever cases in Miami-Dade County in the past week, bringing the county total to 26 this year.
Statewide, 31 dengue local transmission cases have been reported in Florida, which also include three cases in Broward County and one each in Hardee and Polk counties.
Concerning travel associated dengue cases reported in Florida this year, officials say 316 cases have been reported to date–Counties reporting cases were: Alachua (2), Brevard, Broward (28), Collier (5), Duval (5), Escambia, Hendry (2), Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough (20), Indian River (2), Lee (10), Leon, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade (185), Monroe (4), Nassau, Orange (8), Osceola (4), Palm Beach (12), Pasco (2), Pinellas (2), Polk (3), Sarasota (2), Seminole (2), St. Johns (2), St. Lucie (4), and Volusia (4). Fifteen cases were reported in non-Florida residents. Six cases met the criteria for severe dengue (dengue shock syndrome [DSS] or dengue hemorrhagic fever [DHF]).
Dengue infection is acquired through the bite of certain species of mosquitoes, primarily Aedes aegypti, but also Aedes albopictus, both of which are present in Florida.
There are four closely related but antigenically different serotypes of the virus that can cause dengue (DEN1, DEN 2, DEN 3, DEN 4).
Dengue Fever (DF) – marked by an onset of sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, and pain in muscles and joints. Some may also have a rash and varying degree of bleeding from various parts of the body (including nose, mouth and gums or skin bruising).Dengue has a wide spectrum of infection outcome (asymptomatic to symptomatic). Symptomatic illness can vary from dengue fever (DF) to the more serious dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF).
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Dengue Hemorrhagic Fever (DHF) – is a more severe form, seen only in a small proportion of those infected. DHF is a stereotypic illness characterized by 3 phases; febrile phase with high continuous fever usually lasting for less than 7 days; critical phase (plasma leaking) lasting 1-2 days usually apparent when fever comes down, leading to shock if not detected and treated early; convalescence phase lasting 2-5 days with improvement of appetite, bradycardia (slow heart rate), convalescent rash (white patches in red background), often accompanied by generalized itching (more intense in palms and soles), and diuresis (increase urine output).
Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) — Shock syndrome is a dangerous complication of dengue infection and is associated with high mortality. Severe dengue occurs as a result of secondary infection with a different virus serotype. Increased vascular permeability, together with myocardial dysfunction and dehydration, contribute to the development of shock, with resultant multiorgan failure.