People who grew up in the Mosquito Belt, specifically the South, know mosquitoes can be more than a source of bites which cause itching, redness and discomfort. They once carried malaria. They are mischief-makers.

However, even for residents of the Belt, dengue fever, also carried by these bugs, has not been on anyone’s mind.

This story is important because the CDC has said that 1934 was the last time there was a dengue outbreak in Florida. The CDC is tracking this to see if these are isolated cases or if dengue is back.

Below you will find the Mayo Clinic’s description of the disease, symptoms and information about when to seek treatment for symptoms. Most recover, say all sources, but for those who have severe forms, they need hospital care.

CNN

“A study released Tuesday by the Centers for Disease Control and the Florida Department of Health finds dengue virus is showing up in the Florida Keys.  According to the report,  approximately 5 percent of Key West residents, or about 1,000 people, were exposed to it in 2009.  So far this year, there have been 12 confirmed cases of dengue in the Key West area.  The last time there was a dengue outbreak in Florida was 1934.

“These people had not traveled outside of Florida, so we need to determine if these cases are an isolated occurrence or if dengue has once again become endemic in the continental United States,” said Harold Margolis, chief of the dengue branch of CDC in a press release.  “We are concerned that if dengue gains a foothold in Key West, it will travel to other Southern cities … like Miami.” (Emphasis added)

Mayo Clinic

“Dengue (DENG-gay) fever is a disease — ranging from mild to severe — caused by four related viruses spread by a particular species of mosquito. Mild dengue fever causes high fever, rash, and muscle and joint pain. More-severe forms of the disease — dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome — can additionally cause severe bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and death. (Emphasis added)

“No specific treatment for dengue fever exists, and most people recover. But if you have a severe form of the disease, you need hospital care.

“Millions of cases of dengue infection occur worldwide each year. Most often, dengue fever occurs in urban areas of tropical and subtropical regions. A few cases have been reported in the United States — particularly in Texas, along the border with Mexico, and in Hawaii.”

Source: CNN, July 13, 2010