ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County’s Mosquito Control has been busy in the past two weeks targeting the Lockhart area and spraying for mosquitoes, possibly carrying the dengue fever virus.
Two people in that area, who had not traveled outside of the country, became infected this month.
What You Need To Know
- Two people in northwest Orange County became infected with dengue fever this month, but had not traveled outside of the country
- Officials at Mosquito Control say dengue is only transmitted when someone is bitten by a mosquito carrying the virus
- This means they got it from a local mosquito, that got it from someone carrying the disease
- The cases represent the first time in the modern era that Central Florida has had a local transmission of dengue
Officials say dengue is only transmitted when a mosquito carrying the virus bites someone.
Mosquito Control Manager for Orange County Health Services Steve Harrison says this is the first time in the modern era that cases like this have been seen in Central Florida.
“We had two reported cases of transmitted dengue, meaning that contracted the virus here in Florida, where they had no foreign travel,” he said.
Harrison says they immediately target the areas closest to where in virus is reported.
“If we can go in and control the mosquitos in and around the immediate vicinity, that is going to minimize the risk for local transmission of dengue virus,” said Harrison.
The team follows state health recommendations targeting control efforts where these infections occurred in northwest Orange County.
Dengue, which is the most common mosquito-borne disease worldwide, can be fatal, but only one in four cases is symptomatic. He says dengue can be painful.
“They get a rash with dengue. They get fever. It’s also called break-bone fever. So, you have really severe muscle and joint aches,” he said.
While dengue can be fatal, most cases reported to officials include fever and muscle aches, with individuals being bedridden for days.
Jose Colon, who works with Harrison and the department as a program manager, got dengue when living in Puerto Rico.
“Well, you feel fever for three days consecutively and you get a rash all over,” said Colon while looking through a microscope viewing mosquitoes.
In June, the CDC reported the highest number of cases worldwide ever, 9.7 million, and declared a public emergency in many Latin American countries, including Puerto Rico.
Harrison said there is no need for panic and the good news is that the mosquito that primarily carries this virus does not fly far and remains close to where it originally contracted the virus.
Harrison says residents should be mindful of any standing water around their properties.
“Anything that can hold water five days or more can breed mosquitoes.”