Health officials say at least three people became ill with dengue after being bitten by mosquitoes in the Baldwin Park neighborhood east of downtown LA
Health officials in Los Angeles have warned that the city is seeing more dengue fever cases in people who have not traveled outside the US mainland. This year, California has reported nearly 1,000 cases of dengue, a mosquito-borne disease usually prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. It is caused by one of four types of dengue viruses and is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito.
The first cases of dengue were reported just last year, according to the state health authorities.
According to public health officials, at least three people became ill with dengue this month after being bitten by mosquitoes in the Baldwin Park neighborhood east of downtown Los Angeles. “This is an unprecedented cluster of locally acquired dengue for a region where dengue has not previously been transmitted by mosquitoes,” Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, told reporters in a news conference.
Ferrer said other cases that stemmed from mosquito bites originating in the US have been reported this year in Florida, the US Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico, where a dengue epidemic has been declared by the authorities. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says there have been more than 3,085 such cases in the country, of which 96 per cent were in Puerto Rico.
Why are dengue cases surging in the US?
According to experts, the US is witnessing an unprecedented rise in dengue cases due to climate change, which is warmer weather, that enables mosquitoes to expand their reach. Dengue fever is commonly spread through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes in tropical areas and while they are common in Los Angeles County, local infections were not confirmed until last year – when cases were reported in Pasadena and Long Beach.
So far in 2024, at least 82 such cases have been reported in LA County by travelers. Across California, there have been nearly 150 cases.
What is dengue?
Dengue usually causes:
- High fever
- Rashes
- Severe headaches
- Nausea and vomiting
- Muscle pain
- Stomach pain
- Bone and joint pain
According to doctors, around one in four people infected will get symptoms, which usually appear within five to seven days of a bite from a dengue-carrying mosquito. However, one in 20 with symptoms will develop severe dengue, which can lead to severe bleeding and can be life-threatening.
Ways to protect yourself from dengue
Dengue fever is not contagious directly from one person to another like the flu. The only way to get this condition from another person is if a pregnant woman becomes infected. According to experts, a few ways you can protect yourself from this disease includes:
- Use EPA-registered insect repellents that contain 20-30 per cent DEET or other ingredients known to help keep Aedes mosquitos away
- Cover exposed skin outdoors, especially at night when mosquitos are more likely to be around
- Make sure to remove standing water and fill low spots where water can pool
- Keep mosquitos outside by repairing holes in screens and keeping windows and doors closed
- Use mosquito nets at night in areas where dengue is common
- If you are pregnant, avoid traveling to areas where dengue is common if possible
- When traveling, be sure to check with the CDC to understand if there are any outbreaks of illness in your destination before you leave.
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