Is Florida Headed Towards a Dengue Fever Outbreak?

Circumstances of dengue fever, also referred to as “break-bone” fever¹ as a result of excessive joint ache being one in every of its hallmark signs, are hovering worldwide, with many international locations reporting increased than typical 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 not too long ago sounded the alarm a few rise of circumstances in a number of states.

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

As of the most recent epidemiological replace from the Pan American Well being Group (PAHO),³ a record-breaking 9,852,482 suspected dengue circumstances have 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 stories.⁵

Two Florida Counties Report Growing Dengue Circumstances

With its humid, subtropical climate all yr spherical — the right breeding circumstances for mosquitoes — Florida is likely one of the states being intently monitored for a possible dengue outbreak. In line with the CDC, 197 dengue fever circumstances have been reported within the state. Whereas the bulk are travel-related (which means contaminated locals have not too long ago visited different areas the place dengue is endemic), there are additionally stories of regionally transmitted circumstances.⁶

Some of the current regionally 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 regionally acquired circumstances this yr.⁸ Though considerably decrease than final yr’s numbers — Miami-Dade had 173 regionally 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 line with the CDC, cautioning residents to be significantly vigilant.

“Dengue stays much less frequent within the continental United States, however within the 50 states thus far this yr there have been thrice extra circumstances than on the similar level final yr. Most have been infections that vacationers bought overseas, and officers word there isn’t any proof of a present outbreak. However in addition they warn that native mosquitoes pose a risk,” CBS Information stories.¹⁰

Fundamental Info 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 will be recognized by the white stripes on their again and legs; the females lay their eggs in standing water. In line with the Washington Submit:¹²

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

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

The Aedes mosquito can unfold 4 kinds 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 into contaminated with the virus will get sick with dengue fever; the bulk stay asymptomatic. When symptomatic, dengue fever may very well be both gentle or extreme.¹³

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

Kids with dengue fever may additionally expertise frequent chilly and gastroenteritis-like signs.¹⁵ In uncommon situations — 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, could result in shock, inner bleeding and even loss of life.¹⁶

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

Puerto Rico Has Declared a Dengue Epidemic

Though extreme dengue fever could happen throughout main an infection, most situations happen throughout secondary an infection — that is when you’ve got 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 could fail to neutralize the second sort —and truly may also help the virus enter immune cells and replicate.”

This can be a rising concern in Puerto Rico, which has been broadly uncovered to DENV-1 for the final 20 years. In line 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 as a result of 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 have 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 increased than the general dengue circumstances (1,293) from all of 2023.²⁴

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

There’s No Typical Remedy for Dengue

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

The dengue virus messes along with your bone marrow cells, which inhibits platelet manufacturing.²⁶ This results in thrombocytopenia, or a fast decline in platelet depend. In consequence, platelet infusions are sometimes suggested with standard remedy.

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

“Thrombocytopenia is a quite common medical manifestation in dengue. The platelet depend could drop very abruptly, however more often than not it follows its personal medical course and must be managed conservatively … It is rather necessary for clinicians to know that platelet transfusions haven’t any profit in treating thrombocytopenia in dengue and must be averted as they might trigger vital unwanted side 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 depend, inner bleeding or rashes could profit from transfusions, the docs have been typically towards preventive transfusions.³¹

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

“Transfusion runs the chance 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 depend as an alternative of absolute depend, which is a extra dependable indicator of severity.”

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

“We see sufferers who hold 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 executed if fever and different signs persist for 2 days or extra for well timed analysis and remedy,” he suggested.³³

These Pure Cures Might Assist With Dengue Restoration

Whereas there are not any drugs that may treatment dengue fever, you may flip to sure meals, natural treatments and dietary supplements to assist naturally strengthen your immune system, improve platelet depend and handle signs to assist facilitate the therapeutic course of.

In a single 2023 research,³⁴ for instance, scientists discovered that 4 kinds of carbohydrate-binding brokers (CBAs) may also help forestall 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) have been discovered to intrude with the virus’s skill 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 embody:

Vitamin 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 adequate quantities of wholesome vitamins, as some could significantly assist velocity up the therapeutic course of.

A 2021 literature overview revealed within the American Journal of Tropical Medication and Hygiene⁴⁵ highlights research from a number of international locations on how supplementing with sure micronutrients could “provide hypothetical advantages to dengue sufferers through quite a few potential mechanisms, together with modulation of the host immune response.” A few of the vitamins talked about embody:

• Vitamin C — Indian researchers⁴⁶ discovered that sufferers who got supplemental vitamin C not solely had a shorter hospital keep, but additionally had increased 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 have 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 varied medical and hematological parameters, together with considerably increased subsequent platelet counts amongst sufferers admitted for thrombocytopenia.”
• Zinc — A research⁴⁹ carried out in Thailand discovered that supplementing with zinc led to a shorter period of hospitalization amongst kids contaminated with dengue.

In the event you eat a wholesome, well-balanced weight-reduction plan loaded with entire meals together with vegetables and fruit, 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 improve your platelet depend naturally.⁵⁰ As for vitamin D, one of the simplest ways to spice up your ranges is to get common solar publicity as near photo voltaic midday as doable.

Prevention Is Nonetheless the Greatest Course of Motion

Summer season is the very best season to spend time in nature and below the solar, however the concern of being bitten by disease-ridden mosquitoes could make you hesitate. As a way to hold you from turning into a mosquito magnet throughout this season, I like to recommend taking these preventive measures, so you may spend time exterior with none worries: