Mosquito-Borne Dengue Case Confirmed In Pasco, Citrus, As Cases Rise In FL

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — New confirmed mosquito-borne human cases of dengue have been confirmed in Pasco and Citrus counties this week, as cases continue to rise across Florida, health officials said.

The Florida Department of Health in Citrus County reported the case there in an advisory on Monday, while Pasco health officials reported its case on Tuesday.

The health department and Pasco County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Citrus County, the health department and Citrus County Mosquito Control are also coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts, including increased truck fogging, aerial larviciding, and localized ground inspections for breeding locations.

These new cases come as dengue cases in Florida nearly doubled week over week.

• Also Read: Dengue Cases On The Rise In FL: Health Officials

There were 43 locally acquired cases recorded in the state so far this year, according to the Florida Department of Health’s Florida Arbovirus Surveillance report for Aug. 16-22.

The cases in Pasco and Citrus counties were not included in this report, which reported 30 cases in Hillsborough, seven in Miami-Dade, one in Palm Beach and three in Pinellas.

That number dumped significantly from the Aug. 9-15 report, which listed 23 cases in the state this year.

The number of cases doubled in Hillsborough County between the Aug. 9-15 and Aug. 16-22 reports.

The first dengue case this year, reported in Hillsborough, was recorded in the July 19-25 report.

Dengue can present as a flu-like illness with the following symptoms, health officials said:

• severe muscle aches
• joint pain
• fever
• rash

There are no respiratory symptoms associated with dengue.

Symptoms usually appear within 15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito, health officials said.

Dengue fever is not contagious but is transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito.

• Health officials offer the following tips for preventing mosquito bites:
• Wear protective clothing, such as loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants.
• Apply insect repellents to exposed skin and clothing.
• Control mosquitoes inside and outside by repairing damaged screening on windows and doors, and draining standing water from garbage cans, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots, or any other containers.