The following is part of my attempt to provide my readers with some interesting medical updates.
Today the topic is Dengue Fever. Perhaps, one might ask, “Why, as isn’t Dengue something that occurs only in tropical or subtropical locales?”
I had always thought that this mosquito transmitted illness basically occurred in only certain locales in the Americas … notably in South America and Central America. But then the other day, I read something which surprised me.
From the Epoch Health:
“Nearly 250 people have been infected with dengue fever, a virus spread by mosquitoes, in three northeastern U.S. states, according to data provided by federal health officials.
So far this year, New York state has reported 143 cases, and New Jersey has reported 41 cases, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data released last week. Massachusetts has also reported 59 cases.The only other U.S. state with locally transmitted cases so far this year is Florida, with nine cases. Puerto Rico has reported more than 1,700 dengue cases this year, CDC data show.
“Dengue, which is sometimes referred to as ‘breakbone fever,’ is caused by a virus transmitted by a type of infected Aedes species mosquito’s bite.
Symptoms usually start between four and 10 days after being bitten by a dengue-infected mosquito, according to the Mayo Clinic. It generally causes a high fever of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and can include several other symptoms.
That includes muscle, bone, or joint pain, vomiting, nausea, pain behind the eyes, swollen glands, and a rash. In some cases, the symptoms can become life-threatening in what is known as “severe dengue,” dengue hemorrhagic fever, or dengue shock syndrome, according to the Mayo Clinic website.”
Could it be that Dengue has become more frequent in some parts of the U.S. because of the increased numbers of individuals now in the U.S. from South and Central America?
Health officials say some people can experience no signs or just minimal symptoms of a dengue infection. Nonetheless, these people carry the Dengue virus and thus when they are bitten by a mosquito, this same mosquito can then transmit the Dengue virus to someone else …etcetera, etcetera.
Hmmm!
7/27/24