The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) recently confirmed the state’s first locally acquired dengue virus case of 2024 in Cameron County. The patient resides in Cameron County, located on Texas’s southern border with Mexico. According to the TDSHS, 106 travel-associated dengue cases have been reported in Texas this year, one of which resulted in death. This marks the highest annual case count in the state since 2002.
Dengue in Texas: Dengue transmission is common in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Florida and U.S. territories in the Caribbean. Since 2013, Texas has recorded 665 dengue cases, with 40 of them being locally acquired in counties such as Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr, Val Verde, Webb, and Willacy. The TDSHS notes that mosquitoes remain active across much of Texas through November and December. They recommend that healthcare providers consider dengue when diagnosing individuals showing symptoms, and urge residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long sleeves and pants, using insect repellent, and eliminating standing water.
What is Dengue?
Dengue virus is a mosquito-borne illness, with approximately 25% of infected individuals showing symptoms. Common symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, and rashes. Symptoms typically appear within two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito, lasting between two to seven days. Most people recover within a week.
Symptoms: Fever is the most common symptom, often accompanied by muscle, joint, and bone pain, nausea, vomiting, and rashes.
Transmission: Dengue is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, primarily the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
Treatment: Dengue is usually treated with pain relievers, fluids, and bed rest. While acetaminophen can help reduce fever, aspirin or ibuprofen should be avoided.
Complications: In some cases, dengue can lead to severe complications like dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome, which can be fatal.
Prevention: To reduce the risk of dengue, avoid mosquito bites, particularly during the day. The CDC advises that the best way to prevent dengue is by avoiding mosquito bites.
What is ‘Local Dengue’?
A “locally acquired” case means that the infected individual did not travel to an area where dengue is commonly spread. While this is the first locally acquired case in Texas this year, the CDC reports over 4,962 cases nationwide, with Puerto Rico accounting for the majority. Texas also recorded one locally acquired case last year, while California reported 15, and Florida reported 53.
This year, the number of locally acquired dengue cases has already more than tripled compared to all of last year. In June, the CDC issued a health alert warning healthcare providers about the increased risk of dengue infections this year. The CDC also highlighted that global dengue cases are at record highs and that climate change may contribute to an increase in cases as global temperatures rise.
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