Florida authorities issue dengue warning

Local health officials have issued a dengue alert in the Florida Keys after discovering that two cases were acquired locally.

The Florida Department of Health issued the mosquito-borne warning disease alert in Monroe County, where officials said there have been two reported cases of locally acquired dengue fever. This means that these dengue virus (DENV) infections were not associated with any travel.

Dengue viruses are transmitted through mosquito bites normally found in tropical and subtropical climates. With climate change causing temperatures to rise across the world, dengue cases have been on the rise across the world.

Monroe County includes the islands of the Florida Keys, which are a popular summer tourist destination. State health officials said the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County is working with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District to conduct surveillance and prevention efforts in response, including door-to-door inspections and mosquito treatments.

The warning was issued on June 29, just days after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned the public about an increased risk of dengue virus infections in the US this year. CDC data shows there have been 2,241 dengue cases reported in US states and territories so far this year.

The only locally acquired cases in the continental United States are in Florida, which has reported six. Puerto Rico reported 1,484 locally acquired cases and the U.S. Virgin Islands reported six.

The other cases in the US were linked to travel, according to the data.

O CDC says about one in four people infected with the dengue virus will become symptomatic, resulting in mild or severe cases. A mild case may include aches, pains, nausea, vomiting, fever, or a rash.

The CDC said about one in 20 people will have a severe case of dengue fever, which is a medical emergency that can result in shock, internal bleeding or death.

This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story