Miami Dengue Fever Case in 50 Years Has Dade County On Alert - No Vaccine Yet

A Miami dengue fever case, the first in 50 years, has county officials and the CDC concerned as a Dade County man is confirmed to have the disease.  Not only is it the first occurrence in 50 years, but no one knows how the man contracted the illness, and the strain is a type never before seen.  Because no vaccine is available for this illness, officials are worried about an endemic.

What is dengue fever?

Dengue fever is a disease spread by infected mosquitoes who carry the disease to humans when they bite them in search of a blood meal. The disease, worldwide, is rather common, but only in undeveloped countries and those in the subtropics.  Nearly 100 million people are infected annually with the mosquito-borne illness.  It is very rare in the U.S. although a few cases popped up in Key West, Florida in 2009. The Miami dengue fever case, the first in 50 years, has everyone stumped.

Symptoms of dengue fever?

Strangely enough, when a person contracts dengue fever, there could be a wide variety of responses that could signal infection.  Here are just a few telltale symptoms:

• High Fever:  This could be the first warning sign, but could be characteristic of another illness like the flu or a cold.
• Headache:  Here, the headache is characterized by being severe and throbbing, with pain originating behind the eyes.
• Pain:  Pain is usually widespread or sporadic and can impact joints, bones, and muscle tissue.
• Rash
• Bleeding from the gums and nose.

Despite these symptoms, some people may not exhibit any symptoms at all.  However, others may have a rapid progression of the disease that leads to dengue hemorrhagic fever.  This condition is the most severe as it is characterized by low blood pressure and problems breathing.  This can lead to shock and death in some cases.  It is unknown if the Miami dengue fever case, the first seen in 50 years, was characterized as this severe.

Because there is no vaccine available, Dade County officials and the CDC suggest keeping indoors at early dawn or dusk when the tiny critters are most active.  If one must go outside, it is suggested that they use some form of mosquito repellent containing DEET, that is shown to be most effective.  But, the most one can do is to get rid of all standing water, as this creates a place where the carriers of dengue fever can lay their eggs and multiply.

With only one case of the Miami dengue fever case being logged in 50 years, it is no cause for panic, but residents should continue to exercise caution.