HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, June 10, 2021 (HealthDay Information) — The loss of life of a Miami girl in her 30s from domestically acquired dengue fever highlights the necessity for consciousness of a probably deadly mosquito-borne virus that is now present in the USA.
As soon as solely seen in sizzling and steamy tropical or subtropical locales, dengue has been on the rise in elements of the southern United States attributable to international warming, journey and different components. Whereas most People nonetheless contract the illness whereas touring to elements of the world the place dengue is endemic, there have additionally been circumstances of domestically acquired dengue in the USA, together with a 2019 outbreak in Miami.
This may happen when an area mosquito feeds on an individual who’s contaminated with dengue after which go the illness on to others.
Unfold by a chunk from an contaminated Aedes mosquito, dengue could cause a high fever, rash and muscle or joint pain. In extreme circumstances, dengue could cause probably deadly bleeding and shock. Every year, as much as 400 million individuals will turn out to be contaminated with dengue and about 22,000 will die from this illness, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
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In 2019, Florida noticed 413 people identified with dengue, most of whom had just lately traveled to Cuba. This outbreak sired 18 domestically acquired circumstances, together with one which resulted within the younger Miami girl’s loss of life. To find out the supply of the an infection, docs reviewed the lady’s journey historical past and carried out genetic sequencing of the virus, which confirmed that it was domestically acquired.
Her story is the premise of a letter within the June 10 subject of the New England Journal of Medication. It ought to function a cautionary story, stated co-author Dr. Stephen Morris, an infectious illness specialist at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.
“Florida is a form of a quasi-endemic space for dengue now,” he stated. “We should always count on this as a threat transferring ahead, and docs within the southern U.S. ought to know that dengue is on the desk as a doable prognosis.”
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There is no such thing as a extensively obtainable vaccine to forestall dengue, Morris stated. To stave off an infection, “use a very good bug spray, cowl your pores and skin and keep away from areas with a number of standing water,” he stated. Mosquitoes like to put eggs close to standing water in buckets, bowls, flower pots and vases.
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Screens on doorways and home windows can even preserve mosquitoes out, Morris stated.
Delayed prognosis
There is no such thing as a fast check for dengue both so it might take a number of days to make a prognosis, defined examine co-author Tyler Sharp, an epidemiologist on the CDC’s dengue department in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
A delay in prognosis performed a job within the Miami girl’s loss of life. “When you assume it could possibly be dengue, deal with it as if they’ve it, and if it is destructive, there is no such thing as a draw back,” Sharp stated.
Therapy entails hydration and shut monitoring of important indicators. “Inform your physician in case you have been to an space the place dengue is endemic or if somebody you already know has just lately been identified with dengue because it might not be entrance of thoughts to many docs,” he stated.
Controlling mosquitoes on the group stage has been more difficult, stated Sharp.
“We have to elevate consciousness and develop, consider and in the end implement instruments to combat dengue in South Florida and elsewhere,” he stated.
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There are methods of lowering the mosquito inhabitants which are presently being explored. For instance, as a part of a controversial examine, Florida launched genetically modified male mosquitoes that go on a gene that kills feminine offspring earlier than they mature. Solely feminine Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can chunk and unfold dengue.
Except and till the mosquito inhabitants is lowered, “it is extremely essential to pay attention to dengue in Florida, Texas and Hawaii as we all know that mosquito vector is there,” stated Yesim Tozan, an assistant professor of world well being on the NYU College of International Public Well being in New York Metropolis.
Happily, most native outbreaks in the USA have been restricted as mosquitoes cannot fly too far, she stated.
“We have to be vigilant about fever and sickness notably once we know mosquitoes are energetic,” Tozan stated. Mosquito season spans from spring to fall.
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“Local weather change is making us see extreme climate like sudden rain and fluctuating temperatures and mosquitoes are very delicate to this, so unexpectedly we’ve breeding exercise once we usually wouldn’t,” defined Tozan, who was not concerned within the new report.
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“Be an informed traveler,” she stated. “In case you are getting back from areas the place dengue and different mosquito-borne ailments are prevalent, share your journey historical past along with your physician.”
Extra data
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention affords extra on dengue prevention.
SOURCES: Stephen Morris, MD, infectious illness specialist, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami; Tyler Sharp, PhD, epidemiologist, CDC Dengue Department, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Yesim Tozan, PhD, assistant professor, international well being, NYU College of International Public, New York Metropolis; New England Journal of Medication, June 10, 2021
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