Florida: Martin County community survey reveals 22nd dengue fever case

The Florida Department of Health in Martin County has announced test results for the community survey on dengue fever, which was completed last month in the Rio and Jensen Beach area.

Photo/CDC-James Gathany

During September, field teams from the Florida Department of Health conducted the community survey and collected close to 400 blood samples for dengue analysis. Results showed the majority of samples were negative for dengue fever, however, one positive case was found, bringing the total to 22 locally acquired cases. Results on approximately 40 samples were inconclusive and require further testing. Test results for those samples are expected in January 2014.

 The Florida Department of Health is also analyzing information acquired from the community questionnaire, collected during the dengue survey. A report on the information gathered from the questionnaire is expected at the end of March 2014.

Currently, a dengue fever advisory remains in effect the Rio and Jensen Beach area and routine community surveillance continues.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne, potentially fatal disease that affects between 50 and 100 million people in tropical and subtropical regions every year, causing fever and muscle and joint aches.

According to the World Health Organization, Dengue and dengue hemorrhagic fever are present in urban and suburban areas in the Americas, South-East Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean and the Western Pacific and dengue fever is present mainly in rural areas in Africa.

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