FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Health officials have issued an advisory after two patients contracted dengue fever in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.
Officials confirmed that one case of the illness was confirmed in Broward, and one in Miami-Dade. This is the first confirmed case in Broward this year, and the fourth confirmed case for Miami-Dade.
Previous cases of the illness were confirmed in Miami-Dade County last month.
Dengue fever is usually contracted in the Caribbean, but officials said what’s alarming about these new cases is that the Broward patient was bitten and affected in South Florida.
“The fear is, if that mosquito is still on the loose and bites another person, they may also obtain dengue,” said said Dr. Jason Mansour, assistant medical director at Broward Health Medical Center.
Health officials urged residents to remain on high alert and pay close attention to the following symptoms:
- fever
- severe headache
- eye pain
- muscle, joint and bone pain
- nausea and vomiting
- unusual bleeding
Health officials said these symptoms tend to be mild initially but can become life-threatening if left untreated.
“It’s important because the severe form of dengue fever can be fatal. It can be rapidly fatal,” said Mansour. “It can be fatal in the course of a day or two, so if you have those types of symptoms after being bitten by a mosquito, having hemorrhagic or bleeding symptoms, it’s important that you recognize that and you come to the emergency department right away.”
It is recommend that residents take basic precautions to help limit exposure to mosquitoes, such as draining standing water where they may breed.
It is also recommended to wear mosquito repellent with DEET or long pants and long sleeve-clothing.
For more information on the illness, click here.
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