Human Dengue Fever Case Reported In Hillsborough County: FDOH

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — A human dengue fever case acquired locally through a mosquito bite was reported in Hillsborough County, Florida Department of Health officials said in a news release.

The FDOH and Hillsborough County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts through aerial spraying.

The community can take other precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, including:

• Drain water from garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.
• Discard old tires, bottles, pots, broken appliances and other items not being used.
• Empty and clean birdbaths and pets’ water bowls at least twice a week.
• Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
• Maintain swimming pools in good condition and chlorinated. Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.
• Cover with protective clothing while outdoors.
• Keep doors and windows closed to prevent mosquitoes from going indoors.
• Apply insect repellent that contains DEET (10-30%), picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, 2-undecanone or IR3535.

The department is also continuing statewide surveillance for all mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue.

Residents are encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.