Florida has recorded more than 400 locally acquired dengue cases this year, and Manatee County now has one confirmed case. The Manatee County Mosquito Control District has been treating urban areas such as Palmetto and Bradenton every two weeks as a preventive measure. Director Christopher Lesser says mosquito populations in those areas have stayed low, and the Aedes aegypti mosquito that typically spreads dengue is not common locally. Sarasota County has no locally acquired cases at this time.
Dengue can feel like a hard-hitting flu: headaches, fatigue, muscle soreness, and sometimes a rash. Jackie Lebouitz with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County says residents should stay cautious about mosquito-borne illness and bites in general, especially with plenty of outdoor activity ahead this season.
Protecting yourself is mostly about small habits. Wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, use EPA-registered insect repellent, and empty standing water around your yard every week, including plant saucers, birdbaths, and buckets. Have you done a mosquito check at your place lately? Tell us what you found in the comments.
