Contact:
April Crowley
850-245-4111

TALLAHASSEE - With epidemics of dengue fever as close as Cuba and the Caribbean, the Florida Department of Health (DOH) has enhanced its surveillance for this virus. Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne viral disease. The two types of mosquitoes that transmit dengue are found in Florida. Fortunately, no cases of dengue fever have been acquired in Florida in recent decades.

The last epidemic of dengue fever in the United States was in 1934 and 1935, with 2,042 cases being diagnosed throughout Florida. Indigenous transmission occurred in Texas in 1986 and again in 1995. Between 1987 and 2001, Florida had an average of four cases per year, all imported. Symptoms of dengue may include sudden onset of fever lasting three to five days, eye pain, headache, muscle pain, digestive disorder, joint pain, loss of appetite, minor bleeding and possible rash

"Even though our surveillance has not identified any dengue cases, it has demonstrated the potential for on outbreak of dengue fever in our state," said DOH Secretary John O. Agwunobi, M.D., M.B.A. He added, "Because the mosquitoes that are likely to transmit dengue prefer to live near houses, it is very important to remove standing water around your home."

Tips on Eliminating Mosquito Breeding Sites:

• Clean out eaves, troughs and gutters;
• Remove old tires, or drill holes in those used for playground equipment to allow them to drain;
• Turn over or remove empty plastic pots;
• Pick up broken, unused or discarded toys;
• Pick up all beverage containers and cups;
• Check tarps on boats or other equipment that may collect water in pockets or indentations;
• Replace water in birdbaths and pet or other animal feeding dishes at least once a week;
• Change water in the bottom of plant containers, including hanging plants, at least once a week; and,
• Fix dripping indoor and outdoor faucets that create pools of water.

The DOH Bureau of Epidemiology intends to increase its surveillance for dengue by building partnerships with private testing labs, educating private providers and offering rapid follow-up to secure convalescent samples for testing by the Bureau of Laboratories.