So far in 2024, countries in North, South and Central America and the Caribbean have reported almost 10 million cases of dengue fever. Puerto Rico even declared a public health emergency because 1,498 cases were diagnosed there in the first half of this year. Only about a quarter of folks who are infected have symptoms such as nausea, rash, muscle aches, joint/bone pain, headache, or low white blood cell counts.
When it is severe, it can cause dementia or be fatal. But symptoms or not, if you have dengue and are bitten by a mosquito that then bites someone else, the disease can spread. Does that mean folks in the U.
S. are at risk? No — and yes. While the number of cases reported in the U.
S. this year is triple last year at this time, it appears that they’re a result of people returning home from Asia, Africa, the South Pacific and the U.S.
Virgin Islands. Since dengue is only transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, there isn’t much risk. Yet.
However, more and more Americans are traveling to places where they can bring dengue back with them. And climate change is making parts of the U.S.
more hospitable to the Aedes aegypti mosquito that’s responsible for the spread — a risky combination. Your best defense? When outside, use repellents with DEET — if a spray, use in a well-ventilated area. It’s safe on your skin unless you have an open wound.
Get rid of all standing water near you. And wear protective clothing..
