June 26, 2024 – A potentially deadly mosquito-borne disease sometimes called “breakbone fever” is reaching record levels in popular travel destinations world wide this 12 months.
Formerly often called Dengue feverThe CDC issued a alarm Tuesday to healthcare staff in regards to the virus that causes the illness, urging them to observe for what could possibly be just an apparent fever and other common symptoms equivalent to nausea and muscle aches.
Diagnosis of dengue fever is crucial because some victims experience serious complications equivalent to organ failure and vascular damage, which might result in bleeding under the skin and from the gums within the mouth.
According to the CDC, 745 US travelers have already been diagnosed with dengue fever this 12 months. In the primary half of this 12 months, the variety of cases registered within the countries of the Americas has exceeded 9.7 million, which is twice the variety of cases in the complete 12 months of 2023, the CDC warning said. The virus has infected about 1,500 people within the US territory of Puerto Rico, prompting authorities there to declare a public health emergency.
U.S. states with a recent history of dengue fever cases or small outbreaks include Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona and California. According to the CDC's most up-to-date data summary, the typical variety of annual cases within the U.S. from 2010 to 2017 was 626. During that period, 18 people died.
The biggest risk is for people traveling to countries where dengue fever is more common, especially countries from Mexico and the Caribbean and further into South America and parts of Africa and Asia. In greater than 100 countries, the virus is taken into account endemic, meaning it circulates repeatedly. The rise in dengue fever is attributed to climate change, urbanization and migration of populations. World Health Organization says.
People Visiting countries In areas where dengue fever is common, try to forestall mosquito bites by wearing clothing that covers the skin and applying insect repellent to all exposed skin. If you furthermore may use sunscreen, apply the insect repellent after applying sunscreen. Clothing and equipment can be treated with an insecticide called permethrin.
The CDC advised health care providers to observe for and test for dengue fever in individuals with fever who've visited a spot where the virus is common previously two weeks. Not everyone who contracts the virus can have symptoms. Of the roughly 1 in 4 individuals who have the virus, SymptomsThese typically occur 5 to 7 days after infection and include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle pain, joint pain, or headache.
While testing can determine if someone is infected with the virus, there isn't a specific treatment. Instead, symptoms are managed with supportive measures equivalent to paracetamol to scale back fever and fluid intake to avoid dehydration.