US health authorities are warning doctors to be alert for cases of dengue fever, as the tropical disease breaks international records. The virus, spread by mosquitoes, has spread around the world, helped by climate change. In just six months, countries in the Americas have already broken annual records for dengue cases. According to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 197 cases have been reported in the state of Florida. The CDC says 13 of those cases were reported in Palm Beach County. The World Health Organization declared a state of emergency in December, and Puerto Rico declared a state of public health emergency in March. Dengue remains less common in the continental United States, but in all 50 states so far this year there have been three times as many cases as before. the same point last year. Most were infections acquired by travelers abroad, and officials note there is no evidence of a current outbreak. But they also warn that local mosquitoes pose a threat. In its health alert Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised doctors to know symptoms, ask questions about where patients have recently traveled and consider ordering dengue tests. if applicable. ‘-gay) is caused by a virus spread by a type of warm-weather mosquito that is expanding its geographic range due to climate change, experts say. Many infected people do not become ill, but some experience headaches, fevers and flu-like symptoms. symptoms. Severe cases can cause severe bleeding, shock and death. Repeated infections can be particularly dangerous. There are four types of dengue virus, simply called 1, 2, 3, and 4. When a person is first infected, their body produces antibodies against this type. for life. If infected with another type of dengue, antibodies from the first infection may fail to neutralize the second type – and may actually help the virus enter immune cells and replicate. That’s a concern in Puerto Rico, which over the past two decades has been widely exposed to type 1. Last month, the island reported its first dengue death of the year. “We are currently seeing an increase in cases due to dengue 2 and dengue 3, for which the population has very little immunity,” said Dr. Gabriela Paz-Bailey, head of the CDC’s dengue branch based in Puerto Rico. . There is no widely available medication to treat dengue infections. Vaccines have been tricky. In 2021, American authorities recommended a vaccine, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. The three-dose vaccine is designed to protect against all four types of dengue and is recommended only for children ages 9 to 16 who have laboratory evidence of prior dengue infection and who live in an area, such as Puerto Rico, where dengue is common. These restrictions and other problems made it not widely used. As of late last month, only about 140 children had been vaccinated in Puerto Rico since vaccines became available there in 2022, and Sanofi Pasteur told the CDC it was going to stop making the vaccine. The Takeda Company is currently not authorized in the United States. Others are under development. Worldwide, more than 6.6 million infections were reported by around 80 countries last year. In the first four months of this year, 7.9 million cases and 4,000 deaths were reported, according to the World Health Organization. The situation was particularly intense in the Americas, notably Brazil and Peru. In the United States, the numbers have been much more modest: around 3,000 cases last year across U.S. states and territories. But it was the worst in a decade, and there were more infections occurring locally, thanks to native mosquitoes. Most were in Puerto Rico, but about 180 were in three U.S. states: Florida, Texas and California. So far this year, there have been nearly 1,500 locally acquired cases in the United States, almost all of them in Puerto Rico. Most cases have occurred in the continental United States. These are always people infected during international travel. It’s “a traveler’s nightmare” and a growing international concern, said Dr. Lulu Bravo, who studies pediatric tropical diseases at the University of the Philippines in Manila and worked with Takeda on its vaccine. “When you have an outbreak in a country, tourists may not want to come,” Bravo said. Stay up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25 Get the latest updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.
U.S. health officials are warning doctors to be on the lookout for cases of dengue fever as the tropical disease breaks international records.
The virus, spread by mosquitoes, has spread around the world, helped by climate change. In just six months, countries in the Americas have already broken annual records for dengue cases.
According to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 197 cases have been reported in the state of Florida. The CDC says 13 of those cases were reported in Palm Beach County.
The World Health Organization declared a state of emergency in December, and Puerto Rico declared a state of emergency in March.
Dengue fever remains less common in the continental United States, but in all 50 states so far this year, there have been three times as many cases as at the same time last year. Most were infections contracted by travelers abroad, and officials note there is no evidence of a current outbreak. But they also warn that local mosquitoes pose a threat.
In its health alert Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised doctors to know the symptoms, ask questions about where patients have recently traveled and consider ordering dengue tests if appropriate .
Dengue fever (pronounced DEHN’-gay) is caused by a virus spread by a type of warm-weather mosquito that is expanding its geographic range due to climate change, experts say.
Many infected people do not get sick, but some experience headaches, fevers and flu-like symptoms. Severe cases can cause severe bleeding, shock and death.
Repeated infections can be particularly dangerous.
There are four types of dengue virus, simply called 1, 2, 3, and 4. When a person is first infected, their body produces antibodies against this type for life. If infected with another type of dengue, antibodies from the first infection may fail to neutralize the second type – and may actually help the virus enter immune cells and replicate.
This is a concern in Puerto Rico, which has been widely exposed to Type 1 over the past two decades. Last month, the island reported its first dengue death of the year.
“We are currently seeing an increase in cases due to dengue 2 and dengue 3, to which the population has very little immunity,” said Dr. Gabriela Paz-Bailey, head of the CDC’s dengue branch based in Porto Rico.
There are no widely available medications to treat dengue infections.
Vaccines have been tricky. In 2021, American authorities recommended a vaccine, manufactured by Sanofi Pasteur. The three-dose vaccine is designed to protect against all four types of dengue and is recommended only for children ages 9 to 16 who have laboratory evidence of prior dengue infection and who live in an area, such as Puerto Rico, where dengue is common.
Given these restrictions and other problems, it has not been widely used. As of late last month, only about 140 children had been vaccinated in Puerto Rico since vaccines became available there in 2022, and Sanofi Pasteur told the CDC it was going to stop making the vaccine.
Another vaccine made by Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company Takeda is not currently authorized in the United States. Others are under development.
Across the world, more than 6.6 million infections were reported by around 80 countries last year. In the first four months of this year, 7.9 million cases and 4,000 deaths were reported, according to the World Health Organization. The situation was particularly intense in the Americas, notably Brazil and Peru.
In the United States, the numbers are much more modest: around 3,000 cases last year in American states and territories. But it was the worst in a decade, and there were more infections occurring locally, thanks to native mosquitoes. Most were in Puerto Rico, but about 180 were in three U.S. states: Florida, Texas and California.
So far this year, there have been nearly 1,500 locally acquired cases in the United States, almost all of them in Puerto Rico.
Most cases in the continental United States still involve people infected during international travel.
It’s “a nightmare for travelers” and a growing international concern, said Dr. Lulu Bravo, who studies pediatric tropical diseases at the University of the Philippines in Manila and who worked with Takeda on its vaccine.
“When there is an outbreak in a country, tourists may not want to come,” Bravo said.
Keep up to date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
Get the latest updates with the WPBF 25 News app. You can download it here.