Americans are being warned about a potentially deadly virus spread by mosquito bites that is on the rise across the United States.
Health officials say high temperatures across the country mean infections will only rise, and Americans should take steps to protect themselves from the bites, which can kill within a week.
According to the CDC, the number of dengue infections in the United States has been “higher than expected” so far this year: 1,000 more than in all of 2023.
More than 5,300 people have died from the infection worldwide, mostly in tourist hotspots like Brazil., Mexico and Costa Rica, although Authorities warn that cases originating in the United States are also increasing.
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The above shows the number of patients who tested positive for dengue despite not traveling outside the United States.
The CDC warned last week that many of the infections, which have been detected in 38 states, were linked to travelers returning to the United States from countries where the disease is spreading rapidly.
However, at least eight local cases have been detected within the states.
In Florida, there are about 200 cases, including at least six locally transmitted cases in people who have not traveled recently.
Puerto Rico is currently experiencing an outbreak, with around 1,500 infections, and a state of emergency was declared in the US territory in March.
Massachusetts and New York are also experiencing some of the highest case numbers in the country, 50 and 134, respectively.
Dengue fever is not transmitted from person to person, but through the bite of infected mosquitoes, which transfer the virus into the person’s bloodstream.
For someone to contract the disease locally, the mosquito population in the area must have picked up the virus, usually by biting an infected person who has recently returned to the U.S. from abroad.
It could also be the case that infected mosquitoes have migrated to the area or arrived by boat or plane.
Dengue is a potentially fatal virus transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes and was historically known as “breakbone fever.”
While it is possible to test for dengue, there is no known treatment and doctors can only “support” patients by prescribing medications to control symptoms.
About one in four people infected with dengue will have symptoms, including pain in and around the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea and vomiting, and rash.
Symptoms usually appear two weeks after being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last between two and seven days.
In the United States, a dengue vaccine is recommended for use in children ages nine to 16 who have had a previous dengue infection if they live in an area of the country where dengue is more common.
If a patient’s case progresses to severe dengue, which can occur within hours, it is considered a medical emergency and they must be hospitalized.
In severe cases, people can experience uncontrolled bleeding, dangerously low blood pressure, organ failure and death, according to the CDC.
Dengue is not contagious and is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito.
About one in 20 people infected with the virus will develop severe dengue, which includes additional symptoms of abdominal pain, vomiting blood or blood in the stool, and feeling extremely tired or restless.
According to the NIH, without proper treatment, mortality rates from severe dengue could exceed 20 percent, especially among vulnerable populations such as children.
Of the dengue cases reported in the United States this year, 745 were in travelers (those who tested positive after recently returning from abroad), which was “higher than expected” for this time of year.
Dengue is endemic in many countries around the world, with countries in South America, Asia and Africa tending to report higher numbers of cases.
The CDC did not say which countries the people were returning from, but Brazil has had the largest outbreak so far this year, with 7.8 million suspected cases of dengue.
The above shows the weekly number of dengue cases in the US.
The above shows approximate cases of dengue in countries around the world.
The image above shows a world map highlighting dengue risk areas. Public health officials warn that there is an increased risk of dengue in the United States.
Large outbreaks have also been reported in Argentina, with 505,000 cases, and Paraguay, with 282,000, and other cases have been reported in 90 countries on six continents.
Experts attribute the rise in dengue fever worldwide to rising temperatures, increasingly severe storms bringing large amounts of rain and flooding, and increased international travel.
Dr. Marty Makary, a physician at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, said Fox: Because the disease is transmitted through mosquito bites, people should do what they can to reduce exposure and risk of bites.
This may include wearing loose-fitting, long-sleeved shirts and pants or insecticide-treated clothing, using mosquito control inside and outside your home, and applying insect repellent.
The photos above show the symptoms of the dengue rash. About one in four infected people suffer from symptoms of the virus, including a rash.
Mosquito populations thrive in stagnant water, so it is important to prevent and control any areas that may serve as breeding grounds for these insects.
Dr. Makary added that mosquito protection was especially important in southern states, where temperatures are warmer.
He said: “It is transmitted through mosquitoes and it is a good reminder to try to do what we can to reduce mosquito bites, especially in the southern United States where it is more common.”
The rise in dengue comes at the same time that authorities are also concerned about two other mosquito-borne diseases: malaria and West Nile virus.
The Florida Department of Health issued a “mosquito-borne disease advisory” last week after four cases of locally transmitted malaria were diagnosed in an area on the state’s west coast. All of the people were treated and recovered.
Like dengue, malaria is often contracted abroad, with about 2,000 cases reported in the United States each year.
Symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, and chills. If not treated promptly, it can lead to kidney failure, seizures, and coma.
Another mosquito-borne disease that health experts are warning about is West Nile virus, which is the most common in the United States, with an average of 2,200 cases per year.
About 20 percent of those infected will develop symptoms, including fever and flu-like symptoms. Less than 1 percent will develop severe West Nile virus neuroinvasive disease, which can be fatal.
