The Florida Department of Health in Miami-Dade and Miami-Dade County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance, prevention and control efforts, the statement said.<\/p>\n
MORE: The most annoying season has started in Miami \u2014 and the mosquitoes are biting<\/a><\/p>\n So far this year, 21 cases of dengue have been reported in Miami-Dade, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/a><\/p>\n For more information, visit the department\u2019s mosquito prevention webpage<\/a> or the weekly mosquito-borne illness surveillance reports<\/a>. Those who are experiencing any symptoms are asked to call the Department of Health in Miami-Dade at 305-324-2400.<\/p>\n What are dengue fever symptoms?<\/p>\n Most people infected with dengue don\u2019t get symptoms, and many recover within a week, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some do get seriously ill and die. People with severe cases of dengue fever can experience severe stomach pain, persistent vomiting, difficulty or rapid breathing, internal bleeding and organ failure, according to the Mayo Clinic.<\/p>\n \u201cSymptoms appear 3-14 days after the bite of an infected mosquito and include sudden onset of fever, severe headache, eye pain, muscle and joint pain,\u201d and bleeding, according to the Florida Department of Health. Some people may also experience vomiting and diarrhea.<\/p>\n The only way to know if you\u2019re sick with dengue is to get tested.<\/p>\n How can you treat dengue?<\/p>\n The good news is that unlike the flu, dengue is not contagious and can only spread to people by bites from infected mosquitoes. The bad news is that there\u2019s no specific treatment for dengue fever.<\/p>\n If you do get sick with dengue, the CDC recommends resting as much as possible, staying hydrated and take acetaminophen (Tylenol) to help with fever. Avoid taking \u201cibuprofen (Advil) or aspirin because they may cause bleeding in more severe cases,\u201d as the Miami Herald has previously reported.<\/p>\n Tips to reduce your risk of dengue infection<\/p>\n The best way to reduce your risk of dengue infection is to avoid being bit by the pesky bloodsuckers:<\/p>\n Here are tips:<\/p>\n \u25aa Wear EPA-approved long-sleeve shirts if planning to be outside. And wear pants and socks, too. This may sound blasphemous, especially for those who want to get a tan or were planning to have a \u201chot girl summer.\u201d But if you want to reduce a risk of a bite, leave the shorts, tanks and sandals at home. And make sure to drink lots of water and avoid being out in the sun during the hottest time of the day. You don\u2019t want to get heat exhaustion<\/a> or another heat-related illness.<\/p>\n \u25aa Use EPA-registered mosquito repellents<\/a>. The repellents should have DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or IR-3535.<\/p>\n \u25aa Clean out rain gutters. You don\u2019t want the gutters clogged with branches and other debris that could make it easier for rain to pool. Check containers, pots, buckets, toys, plastic covers and other items in and around your home to make sure there\u2019s no standing water too. Remember, standing water is a mosquito\u2019s breeding ground.<\/p>\n \u25aa Change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools and potted plant trays at least once a week, according to the EPA. And if you have a swimming pool, make sure to keep the water treated and circulating.<\/p>\n \u25aa Replace outdoor lights with yellow \u201cbug lights.\u201d These lights are not repellents, but they tend to attract fewer mosquitoes<\/a>, according to the EPA.<\/p>\n