CDC issues Dengue warning: Up to 16 cases reported on Long Island

"

Officials are warning about cases of dengue that are reaching an all-time high and is spreading through an infected mosquito bite. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year, there have been 9.7 million cases of the dengue virus in North and South America – twice as many as last year. A total of 142 cases have been reported in New York - 12 are from Suffolk, and up to four are from Nassau. Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases with Stony Brook Medicine tells News 12, that "all of the cases that have occurred in New York state are all from travelers and that tells us if you're going to be traveling this summer, be careful where you're going, the mosquitoes that pass dengue feed at dusk and dawn, so if you're going to be outside, think about mosquito protection." "Good news is that our mosquitoes actually don't carry any dengue. There's no dengue native to mosquitoes in New York," added Nachman. But Nachman said there are dengue-carrying mosquitoes outside of New York. "If you're getting your mosquito bites in Florida, absolutely, I worry about dengue, so it's all about where you're traveling and what those mosquitoes are carrying." said Nachman. The most common symptoms include fever, nausea and a rash, but some will develop severe dengue, which can lead to shock, internal bleeding and in rare cases death. There is no specific medicine to treat it, most people recover after a week. Dr. Nachman shares this advice for people traveling this summer: "I wouldn't tell them to cancel their trip or not take their kids, I would say, let's think about where you're going to be. Are you using DEET, either on your skin or on your child's clothing? Are you out at dusk and dawn? And how can you prevent getting infected? You probably can't prevent 100% of mosquitoes, but you can prevent most of them by being smart about where you are and what you're doing at the time." The Nassau County Department of Health Services released a statement, saying, "Nassau County Department of Health (NCDOH) investigates all reported cases of dengue virus in Nassau residents. Our investigations have revealed that all reported cases involve individuals who traveled to countries where dengue is prevalent, with no evidence of local transmission within Nassau County at this time. Additionally, NCDOH works with Nassau County Department of Public Works and NYSDOH to monitor for the presence of disease-carrying mosquitos in our County. NCDOH has recently expanded our screening capabilities to include dengue virus and other diseases carried by mosquitos worldwide. NCDOH reminds and encourages residents to take the following precautions to prevent being bitten by mosquitos and reduce exposure to mosquito-borne illness: • Cover your skin as completely as possible when outside when mosquitoes are present and active. Wear long sleeves, pants and socks. • Use insect repellent on exposed skin and follow label directions. • Make sure there are screens in your home's windows and doors. Make sure the screens are free of rips, tears and holes. • Eliminate all standing water on and around your home and property where mosquitoes can breed. • If you plan international travel to an area with frequent or continuous dengue transmission, protect yourself from mosquito bites during and after your trip." The Suffolk County Department of Health Services released a statement, saying, "Dengue is a disease caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti or Aedes albopictus mosquitos. Dengue is a risk in parts of Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean. Travelers can protect themselves from mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, staying in places with air conditioning and that have window and door screens and by considering the use of insect repellents. Suffolk County has been issuing warnings about travel on social media. All cases of Dengue reported in Suffolk County in 2024 thus far have been travel-acquired. Residents are urged to take precautions against mosquito bites to avoid Dengue." "