Dengue fever reported in Champaign County

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — As record-breaking levels of cases of dengue fever are spreading across the United States, at least one person in Central Illinois is reported to have dengue fever.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 34 Illinois residents have tested positive with dengue fever this year as of Thursday afternoon. Of those cases, 24 of them are in Cook County, but the virus is also being reported closer to home in Central Illinois.

The other 10 cases are across the following five counties: Champaign, Ogle, Will, Lake, and DuPage. All of those counties have listed 1 to 4 cases, according to the CDC’s dashboard.

Nationwide, the CDC has reported more than 2,500 cases, with almost 1,750 of them in Puerto Rico. The CDC warned doctors about the rise in Dengue cases in June.

Dengue is transmitted by infected mosquitoes and can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, rash, joint and bone pain, and headaches.

There is currently no antiviral medication to treat dengue, but most cases subside within a week or two. Severe cases can require hospitalization or may result in death. The World Health Organization recommends treating symptoms of dengue fever with acetaminophen, as well as resting and drinking plenty of fluids while recovering.

Dengue is most common in tropical environments. Most U.S. cases of dengue are from travelers who recently visited an area of high-risk for the virus like the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. The CDC has reported on the website local transmission in the U.S. has previously occurred in Florida, Hawaii, Texas, Arizona, and California.

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