CDC Issues Advisory On Increased Risk Of Dengue In The US; Tips To Keep Yourself Protected
cdc issues advisory on increased risk of dengue in the us; tips to keep yourself protected
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory for authorities, healthcare providers and the public on the increased risk of dengue in The United States. CDC says that the alert is important as several cases of dengue have been reported across the country.
According to the CDC, a total of 2,241 cases have been reported so far this year in the US. This also includes 1,498 cases in the US territory of Puerto Rico, where a public health emergency was declared in March after cases were at an all-time high.
CDC says that most of the cases reported in states are travel-related and there were 3,036 dengue cases last year in the US and its territories. A report in NBC News says this year, the incidence of dengue fever globally has been the highest on record, especially in Latin American countries, where more than 9.7 million dengue cases have been reported. That’s twice as many as in all of 2023 (4.6 million cases), according to the CDC.
The latest CDC alert advises healthcare professionals to have increased suspicion of dengue among people with fever, especially if they have recently been in areas with frequent dengue transmission. They’re advised to quickly report any dengue cases to public health authorities and promote mosquito bite prevention measures.
The CDC said it is also implementing other measures, such as improving and expanding laboratory testing to diagnose cases more effectively, as well as educating the public on the disease and how to prevent it.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that is common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Mild dengue fever causes a high fever and flu-like symptoms. Mayo Clinic says that the severe form of dengue fever, also called dengue hemorrhagic fever, can cause serious bleeding, a sudden drop in blood pressure (shock) and even death.
There are no treatments or cures for dengue. Therefore, it is important that you seek medical advice when you start to see the early symptoms; high fever being one of them.
Some of the other common symptoms of dengue are rashes all over the body, severe muscle and joint pain, severe abdominal pain, headaches, feeling nauseous consistently, severe and persistent pain behind your eyes and bleeding gums and nose.
Tips to keep yourself protected from dengue
Here, take a look at some of the tips to keep yourself protected from dengue.
- Mosquito repellents: Apply mosquito repellents on your skin and clothes and these will keep the mosquitoes away.
- Window and door screens: Make sure that all doors and windows have screens so as to stop the mosquitoes from entering your home.
- Wear full-sleeved clothes: Wear clothes that cover your entire skin. This will prevent you from getting bitten by mosquitoes and eventually a dengue infection.
- Keep your home and surroundings clean: It is important to keep your home and surroundings clean and clutter-free. Remove any trash as these could become places for mosquitoes to breed.
- Get rid of mosquito breeding sites: Keep a constant check for stagnant water places and get those areas cleaned regularly. This will prevent mosquitoes from breeding.