Florida leads the US in dengue fever cases as mosquito-borne illness surges
BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. —
Florida is experiencing a surge in dengue fever cases.
Allen Lindsey owns Mosquito Authority. He said September is usually their busiest month, but this year, demand for service is high.
“It’s usually after those rainfalls; it takes three weeks for those mosquitoes to go from eggs to adult mosquitoes,” Lindsey said. “Usually after those rainfalls, you start to get more of those calls.”
This year, mosquitoes have gone from annoying pests to a major health concern, with Florida leading the country in dengue fever cases. The illness is spread through infected mosquito bites.
There have been nearly 2,000 cases nationwide, and more than 300 of those are in Florida, according to the CDC. In Hillsborough County, one death has been reported.
In Brevard County, mosquito control sprays areas overnight by truck and plane. Employees usually work six to seven days a week.
Lindsey said another rule of thumb is to eliminate standing water near your home.
“The mosquito cycle is about three weeks, so when they lay the eggs, three weeks later they’re going to hatch,” Lindsey said. “If you’ve got water standing for that long, there are bound to be mosquitoes breeding in those areas.”
If you notice symptoms such as stomach pain or tenderness, vomiting at least three times in 24 hours, bleeding from the nose or gums, or vomiting blood, you should go to the emergency room, according to the CDC.
You should also use repellent and wear long, loose-fitting clothes during peak mosquito hours, including dawn and dusk.