Officers warn of unfold in Los Angeles
Los Angeles well being officers have confirmed one other case of the mosquito-borne dengue fever, bringing the overall variety of circumstances this 12 months to 4.
The newest case was confirmed in Panorama Metropolis, The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being stated in an announcement final week. The affected person had not traveled to areas the place dengue fever is endemic, the division stated.
County well being officers have confirmed the next circumstances of dengue fever since fall 2023:
Calling the most recent variety of native transmissions “unprecedented in Los Angeles County,” Dr. Muntu Davis, the Los Angeles County Well being Officer, stated in a information launch one of the simplest ways to cease the sickness from transmission is by limiting mosquito bites and mosquito breeding.
“Utilizing insect repellent to stop mosquito bites, eliminating gadgets that maintain standing water round your private home the place mosquitoes can breed, and utilizing or fixing screens in your doorways and home windows to maintain mosquitoes out of the house are easy steps everybody can take to considerably cut back the danger of mosquito-borne illness for each you and your neighbors,” Davis stated in regards to the sickness within the launch.
What’s inflicting this rise in circumstances?
The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being stated the rise in dengue fever circumstances isn’t just occurring in Los Angeles.
“Dengue circumstances are on the rise all over the world,” the company wrote in an e mail Wednesday night, including that the illness is often unfold by a species referred to as the Aedes mosquito.
They had been first present in Los Angeles County in 2011 and now, they’re in practically all cities within the county.
“What we’re seeing in LA County in 2024 is a mirrored image of elevated international dengue transmission in a area with widespread Aedes mosquitoes and lots of vacationers from areas the place dengue repeatedly or incessantly circulates,” the company stated.
One other issue at play could also be rising temperatures, in response to the division. These increased temperatures enable Aedes mosquitoes to thrive in areas they usually could not earlier than. The rising temperatures may also have an effect on how shortly mosquitoes multiply, how quickly they grow to be infectious and their biting patterns.
“All these components can contribute to extra mosquitoes and elevated danger of native dengue unfold,” the division stated.
What’s dengue fever?
Dengue fever is a mosquito-borne sickness that’s usually prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas, in response to the Mayo Clinic. The sickness may cause excessive fever and flu-like signs.
Those that are contaminated with the fever might have extreme headache, ache behind the eyes, joint and muscle ache, rash and delicate bleeding, the general public well being division stated in its information launch.
In response to the Mayo Clinic, the fever is attributable to one in every of 4 kinds of dengue viruses however you can not get it from merely being round an contaminated particular person. The sickness is unfold by means of mosquito bites, usually from mosquitoes in locations the place people dwell.
“When a mosquito bites an individual contaminated with a dengue virus, the virus enters the mosquito,” the Mayo Clinic stated on its web site. “Then, when the contaminated mosquito bites one other particular person, the virus enters that particular person’s bloodstream and causes an an infection.”
As soon as folks have recovered from the fever, they’re proof against the kind of virus that contaminated them, normally on a long-term foundation, the clinic stated. Nonetheless, they’ll grow to be contaminated once more by one of many different three virus varieties. If individuals are contaminated for a second, third or fourth time, they could develop extreme dengue fever.
Extreme dengue can result in shock, extreme bleeding and extreme organ impairment, the general public well being division stated in its information launch.
Whereas there aren’t any particular medicines used to deal with dengue, there are some “supportive medicines to assist with fever and ache,” the general public well being division stated.
One sort of dengue vaccine is offered to be used in areas with danger of dengue in america
There’s one vaccine accessible to be used in areas with danger of dengue within the U.S., the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention says. However the CDC notes particular suggestions for who ought to and shouldn’t obtain a dengue vaccine.
How can I defend myself from dengue fever?
The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being recommends the next precautions:
- Put on EPA-registered mosquito repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, 2-undecanone and oil of lemon eucalyptus. They final the longest and are best, and are available within the type of sprays, wipes and lotions.
- Put on long-sleeved garments and pants when exterior.
- Be certain that dwelling doorways and home windows have tight-fitting screens to maintain out mosquitoes.
- Restore or substitute screens with tears or holes.
- Eradicate standing water the place mosquitoes can reproduce.
- Eliminate standing water in flower pots, saucers, birdbaths and different outside containers.
- Cowl water storage containers reminiscent of buckets and rain barrels. If containers would not have a lid, use wire mesh with holes smaller than an grownup mosquito.
- Clear swimming swimming pools, spas and drain water from pool covers.
- Throw away previous patio or yard gadgets that may maintain water, reminiscent of previous automotive tires and youngsters’s toys.
- Name 2-1-1 or your native vector management division to report persistent issues to your mosquito management district.
Steps well being officers are taking to guard group members
The general public well being division is working with the Larger Los Angeles County Vector Management District to go to residents within the neighborhood the place circumstances have been reported. There, representatives let residents know the way they’ll defend themselves.
The Larger Los Angeles County Vector Management District has additionally upped its mosquito trapping to cut back the possibility of dengue fever spreading.
These with questions can name a close-by clinic or physician or the Public Well being InfoLine at 1-833-540-0473. The road is open every day from 8 a.m. to eight p.m.
This story was up to date so as to add new info.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW group. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Comply with her on Twitter at@SaleenMartin or e mail her atsdmartin@usatoday.com.
