Updated
Updated · tampabaybeacons.com · Aug 18
Pinellas County Reports 2 Dengue Cases, Launches Palm Harbor Mosquito Sweep After 15 Years
Updated
Updated · tampabaybeacons.com · Aug 18

Pinellas County Reports 2 Dengue Cases, Launches Palm Harbor Mosquito Sweep After 15 Years

3 articles · Updated · tampabaybeacons.com · Aug 18

Summary

  • Two locally acquired dengue cases reported Aug. 12 are Pinellas County’s first in more than 15 years, prompting health officials to concentrate surveillance in Palm Harbor.
  • Palm Harbor will get daytime backpack fogging and door-to-door inspections, with mosquito crews targeting standing water in yards, flower pots, buckets and animal dishes where Aedes mosquitoes breed.
  • Residents with fever, severe muscle or joint pain, nausea, vomiting, rash or pain behind the eyes are urged to seek care and contact the health department; dengue has no specific treatment.
  • Hillsborough County reported an eighth dengue case the same day, while Pinellas also cited increased West Nile activity in sentinel chickens and plans more overnight truck and daytime aerial spraying.

Insights

With dengue spreading locally, could your own backyard be the next ground zero for breakbone fever?
Why are scientists releasing thousands of modified mosquitoes to fight a virus arriving on airplanes?
If one asymptomatic traveler can trigger an outbreak, are traditional bug sprays missing the real threat?