PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. – Health officials in Pinellas County have confirmed two local cases of dengue fever, prompting response efforts to control the area’s mosquito population.
The Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County announced it is coordinating surveillance and prevention measures alongside Pinellas County Mosquito Control.
Vector control strategies currently underway include increased truck fogging, aerial larviciding, and targeted ground inspections to locate and eliminate potential breeding grounds.
Dengue is a viral illness transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. It does not spread directly from person to person. Symptoms typically develop within 15 days of a bite and include high fever, severe muscle and joint pain, and occasionally a rash. Unlike many seasonal viruses, dengue generally does not cause respiratory symptoms.
To reduce the risk of transmission, health authorities advise residents to eliminate standing water around homes by emptying items like buckets, flowerpots, pool covers, and trash cans.
Additional recommendations include fixing broken screens on doors and windows, wearing loose long-sleeved clothing, and applying EPA-registered insect repellents to skin and clothing.
DOH-Pinellas notes that state health agencies maintain ongoing surveillance for multiple vector-borne pathogens across Florida, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya, and dengue.
Residents who suspect they are experiencing symptoms of dengue are advised to contact a healthcare provider.
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