Florida health officials have confirmed the death of a woman from dengue fever, a rare outcome in the United States where dengue deaths typically number in the single digits each year. The death comes as the state approaches record case levels, with nearly 150 dengue cases reported so far this year. Dengue, often called breakbone fever because of the intense body aches it causes, spreads through mosquito bites and has no specific treatment. Most people recover in about two weeks, though some cases turn severe.
The bigger picture matters for our region. Puerto Rico and American Samoa are reporting hundreds of cases, and public health experts say a warming climate is expanding the range of the mosquitoes that carry the virus. Here on the Suncoast, we spend more time outdoors than most of the country, from morning walks along the Gulf to evenings on the patio. That outdoor lifestyle is a gift, and it’s also an invitation for mosquitoes, especially after our frequent summer and fall rains.
Prevention is refreshingly simple. Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants when you can, and check your yard for standing water. Plant saucers, birdbaths, clogged gutters, buckets, and tarps all collect the small amounts of water mosquitoes need to breed. Dumping them after every rain takes minutes and cuts your risk significantly. Have you walked your yard for standing water this week?
