Health experts warn Florida residents to be on guard and adopt preventive measures to protect themselves against mosquito borne diseases following confirmed incidences of dengue fever and chikungunya.
Officials from the Florida Department of Health revealed last week that the state has 42 cases of mosquito borne diseases with 24 cases of dengue fever, a potentially fatal disease associated with flu-like symptoms, and 18 cases of chikungunya, another type of viral disease that is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and is characterized by similar symptoms observed in individuals with dengue such as the appearance of rash, fever, joint and muscle pains, fatigue and nausea.
It is believed that the Floridians who contracted dengue and chikungunya may have likely gotten them overseas as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that these diseases are not typically found in North America and those infected have travelled to South America and Caribbean. It appears though that the disease is spreading. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) says that chikungunya has already spread in 17 countries and Puerto Rico.
Walter Tabachnick, director of the Florida Medical Entomological Laboratory expressed concerns that while no locally transmitted cases of the diseases has yet been reported, mosquitoes in Florida may have already been infected by biting individuals who have contracted the diseases and this could lead to an outbreak.
"The threat is greater than I've seen in my lifetime," Tabachnick said. "Sooner or later, our mosquitoes will pick it up and transmit it to us. That is the imminent threat."
Health officials have advised residents to prepare and adopt measures that could protect them from contracting dengue fever and chikungunya. Unlike with many diseases, there are no available vaccines to prevent infection from dengue and chikungunya. Health officials, however, said that the disease can be avoided and advised residents to clean up the surroundings to eliminate the breeding grounds of disease-carrying mosquitoes.
Tim O´Connor, from the Florida Department of Health, advised residents to ensure that there are no standing water in their house and their surroundings as mosquito breeds in places where water collects such as in buckets, pool water, flower pots and soda cans.
"Look at your house, environment, make sure that you don´t have any standing water," O´Connor said. "If you do, drain it off as much as possible."
Other measures to avoid mosquito borne diseases include wearing of clothing that can protect against mosquito bites such as pants and long sleeves as well as using repellents and installing window and door screens.
