Health officials in Texas have confirmed the state’s first locally acquired dengue virus case of 2024 in Cameron County. With global cases rising and Texas reporting its highest annual count since 2002, authorities emphasize mosquito bite prevention and awareness of the disease’s symptoms.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said that the 2024 first case of dengue virus in Texas is in Cameron County. This is a growing concern with a larger rise in dengue cases around the world, which has led to health warnings all over the world.
Texas has had 106 travel-related dengue cases, including one death, as of Monday. This is the highest number of cases recorded in a single year in over twenty years.
Infected mosquitoes spread the dengue virus. Most cases happen in tropical areas, but the disease is spreading. Alerts have been sent out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to visitors about the higher risk.
Fever, rash, muscle and joint pain, and headaches are some of the signs of dengue that can show up three to fourteen days after infection. Most people get better in two weeks, but about 5% of mild cases can get worse and could be fatal if they are not handled.
DSHS Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford said, "Health care providers should think about dengue when making diagnoses and use CDC resources for clinical management."
Texans are being told to use bug spray, wear protective clothing, and be extra careful when going to places where outbreaks are known to have happened.
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