The Florida Department of Health reported two cases of mosquito-borne dengue in Pinellas County on Aug. 12.
Dengue fever is a viral illness transmitted through the bite of aedes aegypti and aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are both found in Florida.
Symptoms of dengue include severe muscle aches, joint pain, fever, nausea, pain behind the eyes, vomiting and rash. They typically present within 15 days of an infected mosquito bite.
Pinellas County hasn’t reported a case of locally-acquired dengue in over 15 years, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is unclear if the new cases were identified in Palm Harbor, but health officials are focusing their surveillance in that area.
The Hillsborough health department also issued a mosquito-borne illness alert Aug. 12, announcing an eighth case of dengue in the county.
There is no specific treatment for dengue. Rest, drinking fluids and easing symptoms with acetaminophen are recommended. Tampa Bay residents presenting symptoms should see a healthcare provider and contact the health department.
Going door-to-door on Pinellas residents’ private property, where mosquitoes are most commonly found, will be the priority of Pinellas County Mosquito Control’s dengue prevention efforts.
Mosquito control will conduct daytime backpack fogging treatments and door-to-door inspections in Palm Harbor. The inspections aim to reduce areas where mosquitoes breed, such as standing water in animal dishes, flower pots and buckets.
Following the cases, mosquito control is advising Palm Harbor residents to increase protection efforts, such as removing standing water on their properties, dress in light-colored, long-sleeve clothing and closed-toed shoes and use insect repellent that contains DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus.
There has also been an uptick in West Nile Virus in Pinellas County sentinel chickens, the mosquito control reported. Officials will increase overnight truck treatments and daytime aerial treatments to combat the spread of viruses.
Pinellas County has reported no human cases of West Nile virus this year.
