Sep 22, 2009 3:19 pm US/Eastern
Key West Health Advisory Issued For Dengue Fever
KEY WEST (CBS4) ―
South Florida is already dealing with an outbreak of the H1N1 swine flu and other variations of the influenza virus and now a precautionary health advisory has been issued for Key West after three people were diagnosed with dengue fever.
Bob Eadie, Administrator of Monroe County Health Department, on Monday said that all three people have since fully recovered. Eadie issued the advisory last week.
In August, a tourist from New York was in Key West and when she returned to home she started experiencing flulike symptoms. He doctor confirmed it was dengue fever. A husband and wife from Key West were also diagnosed with the illness.
There are no indications of infections for September, but health officials are investigating, Eadie said.
"We take this issue very seriously," Susan Smith, Florida Department of Health spokeswoman, said in an e-mail. "We are partnering with the local CHD and encourage the public to remain vigilant in protecting themselves against mosquitoes by using repellent and other preventative methods."
Dengue fever is a flulike illness spread by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito.
Carina Blackmore, state public health veterinarian, said that the mosquito is found in high concentrations in South Florida and the Keys.
Blackmore said it has been 40 years since officials have seen locally acquired dengue fever. But dengue fever may have been in the community, just not correctly diagnosed, she said.
"We have been expecting it," she said. "We just haven't picked it up."
She said experts believe it is a small localized outbreak that is not expected to spread across Florida.
People should drain standing water in flower pots and bird baths, and they should apply insect repellent.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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