Is Florida Headed Towards a Dengue Fever Outbreak?

Instances of dengue fever, often known as “break-bone” fever¹ resulting from excessive joint ache being considered one of its hallmark signs, are hovering worldwide, with many international locations reporting greater than regular numbers. Whereas a majority of the circumstances are seen in tropical and subtropical areas like South Asia, Africa and South America,² U.S. well being officers have lately sounded the alarm a couple of rise of circumstances in a number of states.

In June 2024, the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) issued an alert concerning the growing dengue incidents within the Americas.

As of the newest epidemiological replace from the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO),³ a record-breaking 9,852,482 suspected dengue circumstances had been recorded from January to June 2024 — that’s twice as many because the reported circumstances (4.6 million) in 2023.⁴ “This represents a rise of 231% in comparison with the identical interval in 2023 and 420% in comparison with the typical of the final 5 years,” PAHO reviews.⁵

Two Florida Counties File Growing Dengue Instances

With its humid, subtropical climate all yr spherical — the proper breeding situations for mosquitoes — Florida is without doubt one of the states being intently monitored for a possible dengue outbreak. In accordance with the CDC, 197 dengue fever circumstances have been reported within the state. Whereas the bulk are travel-related (that means contaminated locals have lately visited different areas the place dengue is endemic), there are additionally reviews of domestically transmitted circumstances.⁶

One of the latest domestically acquired circumstances was in Hillsborough County, reported by the Florida Division of Well being on June 24.⁷ In the meantime, Miami-Dade County has reported six domestically acquired circumstances this yr.⁸ Though considerably decrease than final yr’s numbers — Miami-Dade had 173 domestically acquired circumstances in 2023 — it’s nonetheless a trigger for concern.

Different states like Hawaii, Texas, California and Arizona have additionally beforehand reported small native outbreaks of dengue fever⁹ in accordance with the CDC, cautioning residents to be significantly vigilant.

“Dengue stays much less widespread within the continental United States, however within the 50 states thus far this yr there have been 3 times extra circumstances than on the identical level final yr. Most had been infections that vacationers acquired overseas, and officers observe there isn’t a proof of a present outbreak. However additionally they warn that native mosquitoes pose a menace,” CBS Information reviews.¹⁰

Fundamental Information About Dengue Fever

The dengue virus is a single positive-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the Flaviviridae household and is transmitted to people by the Aedes mosquito species, significantly Aedes albopictus, Aedes polynesiensis and Aedes scutellaris.¹¹ These small, black mosquitoes might be recognized by the white stripes on their again and legs; the females lay their eggs in standing water. In accordance with the Washington Submit:¹²

“A single bottle cap crammed with rainwater can maintain greater than 100 [mosquito] eggs, stated Sadie Ryan, a medical geographer on the College of Florida who focuses on insect-borne ailments.

‘They’re tenacious, they’re pernicious,’ Ryan stated. ‘Actually, they’re simply good at being in every single place.’ They behave like tiny vampires at a human buffet, flitting from individual to individual, doubtlessly spreading illness with every chew.”

The Aedes mosquito can unfold 4 varieties of dengue viruses, specifically DENV-1, -2, -3 and -4, that are distinct however intently associated. The CDC notes that about 1 in 4 individuals who turn out to be contaminated with the virus will get sick with dengue fever; the bulk stay asymptomatic. When symptomatic, dengue fever could possibly be both gentle or extreme.¹³

Dengue’s incubation interval — from the time between publicity to when the signs begin to manifest — is usually between 4 and 7 days, though in some circumstances it might probably take so long as 14 days.¹⁴ Signs embrace:

Youngsters with dengue fever might also expertise widespread chilly and gastroenteritis-like signs.¹⁵ In uncommon cases — about 1 in 20 sufferers — dengue fever can develop right into a extreme sickness. Indicators of extreme dengue normally seem one to 2 days after the fever has subsided, and if not handled, might result in shock, inside bleeding and even loss of life.¹⁶

If in case you have been identified with dengue fever and expertise the signs under, it’s essential to hunt speedy therapy instantly:^17,18

Puerto Rico Has Declared a Dengue Epidemic

Though extreme dengue fever might happen throughout main an infection, most cases happen throughout secondary an infection — that is when you may have been beforehand contaminated with one DENV pressure after which re-infected with one other pressure. CBS explains:¹⁹

“When somebody is first contaminated, their physique builds antibodies towards that sort for all times. In the event that they get contaminated with one other sort of dengue, the antibodies from the primary an infection might fail to neutralize the second sort —and truly might help the virus enter immune cells and replicate.”

It is a rising concern in Puerto Rico, which has been extensively uncovered to DENV-1 for the final 20 years. In accordance with Dr. Gabriela Paz-Bailey, the Puerto Rico-based chief of the CDC’s dengue department, “We’re presently seeing will increase within the circumstances resulting from dengue 2 and dengue 3, for which the inhabitants has little or no immunity.”²⁰

Puerto Rico declared a dengue epidemic in March 2024, with 549 circumstances reported and greater than 340 hospitalized.²¹ A lot of the circumstances had been seen within the capital of San Juan. In Might, the island reported its first dengue-caused loss of life for the yr.²² By June, the quantity soared to a whopping 1,498 circumstances,²³ which is greater than the general dengue circumstances (1,293) from all of 2023.²⁴

But it surely isn’t simply Puerto Rico and the Americas which are experiencing this surge. Worldwide, dengue circumstances have considerably elevated within the final 5 years, in accordance with the World Well being Group (WHO). Presently, 90 international locations have identified energetic transmission of this illness.²⁵

There’s No Standard Remedy for Dengue

Dengue fever isn’t deadly, however should you do fall ailing due to this an infection, it’s essential to handle your signs and keep hydrated to assist your self get well. There isn’t any identified therapy for dengue; gentle circumstances might be managed at dwelling with ache remedy and fluids. In extreme circumstances, hospitalization could also be essential to make sure correct restoration.

The dengue virus messes together with your bone marrow cells, which inhibits platelet manufacturing.²⁶ This results in thrombocytopenia, or a fast decline in platelet rely. Consequently, platelet infusions are sometimes suggested with typical therapy.

Nevertheless, there’s rising analysis^27,28,29 stating that transfusions to extend platelet rely is questionable, and should trigger additional damaging results. One research, printed in 2022 within the journal Case Stories in Hematology,³⁰ notes:

“Thrombocytopenia is a quite common medical manifestation in dengue. The platelet rely might drop very abruptly, however more often than not it follows its personal medical course and needs to be managed conservatively … It is extremely necessary for clinicians to know that platelet transfusions haven’t any profit in treating thrombocytopenia in dengue and needs to be averted as they might trigger vital negative effects.”

Three years in the past, New Delhi, India, skilled a dengue fever outbreak, which overwhelmed their native hospitals and led to a excessive demand in platelets. Nevertheless, whereas sufferers manifesting extreme signs like very low platelet rely, inside bleeding or rashes might profit from transfusions, the docs had been usually towards preventive transfusions.³¹

In a Occasions of India article,³² Dr. Jyoti Kotwal, chairperson of the division of hematology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, commented:

“Transfusion runs the danger of transmitted infections. Platelet transfusion shouldn’t be overprescribed. In our hospital, we conduct immature platelet fraction checks earlier than deciding whether or not a affected person wants transfusion or not. It measures younger platelet rely as a substitute of absolute rely, which is a extra dependable indicator of severity.”

Dr. Rommel Tickoo, director of inside medication at Max Saket Hospital, echoed this sentiment, and stated majority of sufferers can profit from correct hydration and supportive remedy as a substitute, in addition to getting examined on time.

“We see sufferers who maintain ready at dwelling with excessive fever for 5 to 6 days and rush to hospital with extreme signs. … Get the dengue take a look at finished if fever and different signs persist for 2 days or extra for well timed prognosis and therapy,” he suggested.³³

These Pure Treatments Might Assist With Dengue Restoration

Whereas there aren’t any drugs that may remedy dengue fever, you possibly can flip to sure meals, natural treatments and dietary supplements to assist naturally strengthen your immune system, enhance platelet rely and handle signs to assist facilitate the therapeutic course of.

In a single 2023 research,³⁴ for instance, scientists discovered that 4 varieties of carbohydrate-binding brokers (CBAs) might help stop the dengue virus from attaching to host cells, inhibiting the an infection’s progress.

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrid), Bovine lactoferrin (a protein present in cow’s milk), stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and customary snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) had been discovered to intrude with the virus’s means to connect to wholesome cells. This helps inhibit an infection within the early levels:

“It was proven that the binding of HHA to the DENV-2 E protein blocked the interactions between DENV-2 and DC-SIGN, subsequently interfering with DENV-2 attachment to the host cells.

This indicated that these CBAs acted throughout an early stage of DENV an infection by stopping viral attachment to DC-SIGN receptors on host cells,” the researchers famous.³⁵

As well as, sure natural treatments have antiviral properties that will assist with dengue fever restoration. These embrace:

Diet Issues — Enhance Your Consumption of These Vitamins

Getting sufficient relaxation, staying hydrated and consuming a nutritious diet are all important methods should you’re recovering from a viral illness like dengue fever. Throughout this time, it’s significantly necessary to get ample quantities of wholesome vitamins, as some might significantly assist pace up the therapeutic course of.

A 2021 literature assessment printed within the American Journal of Tropical Drugs and Hygiene⁴⁵ highlights research from a number of international locations on how supplementing with sure micronutrients might “provide hypothetical advantages to dengue sufferers by way of quite a few potential mechanisms, together with modulation of the host immune response.” A few of the vitamins talked about embrace:

• Vitamin C — Indian researchers⁴⁶ discovered that sufferers who got supplemental vitamin C not solely had a shorter hospital keep, but additionally had greater platelet counts than those that didn’t take the complement.
• Vitamin D — A research from Pakistan⁴⁷ divided dengue sufferers into two teams; solely these within the first group acquired vitamin D dietary supplements. The researchers discovered that ؅those that didn’t obtain the complement had been extra more likely to develop dengue hemorrhagic fever.
• Vitamin E — Researchers from Sri Lanka⁴⁸ famous that dengue sufferers who acquired vitamin E dietary supplements confirmed “enhancements in numerous medical and hematological parameters, together with considerably greater subsequent platelet counts amongst sufferers admitted for thrombocytopenia.”
• Zinc — A research⁴⁹ carried out in Thailand discovered that supplementing with zinc led to a shorter length of hospitalization amongst youngsters contaminated with dengue.

In case you devour a wholesome, well-balanced weight loss plan loaded with entire meals together with vegatables and fruits, you’ll haven’t any scarcity of those vitamins. For instance, kiwi, dragon fruit and papaya are wealthy in nutritional vitamins A, C, E and potassium, all of which can assist promote immunity and enhance your platelet rely naturally.⁵⁰ As for vitamin D, one of the best ways to spice up your ranges is to get common solar publicity as near photo voltaic midday as potential.

Prevention Is Nonetheless the Finest Course of Motion

Summer season is one of the best season to spend time in nature and below the solar, however the worry of being bitten by disease-ridden mosquitoes could make you hesitate. With a view to maintain you from changing into a mosquito magnet throughout this season, I like to recommend taking these preventive measures, so you possibly can spend time exterior with none worries: