An 80-year-old woman from the Tampa area died last month from dengue fever, marking Florida’s first fatality from the mosquito-borne illness. As of late September, state health officials reported 252 locally acquired dengue cases across seven counties, along with 20 infected mosquito pools. This represents the highest number of locally acquired dengue cases in the United States in decades.
Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa, has been hit hardest with 223 reported cases. County officials extended a local dengue emergency order through October 8 and increased mosquito treatment efforts by air and ground in affected neighborhoods after detecting dengue virus activity in the mosquito population. Because no specific treatments exist for severe dengue infections, patients receive supportive care and typically recover at home. Residents are being advised to take precautions against mosquito bites.
Source: Read the full story at CIDRAP
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