50 cases reported in Massachusetts

WORCESTER – A potentially deadly viral disease caused by mosquito bites is occurring in Massachusetts.

The disease is called dengue, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a national health alert this week as the risk of contracting the disease increases in the United States.

Record numbers of infections are being reported worldwide and healthcare providers and local health authorities have been put on alert.

In the United States, more cases than expected have been reported so far this year: 2,241, of which more than half (1,498) are in Puerto Rico. The US territory has declared a public health emergency.

Most cases in the U.S. involve people who have traveled to high-risk areas outside the country, the CDC said. The agency reports that 745 U.S. travelers have been infected with dengue so far this year and believes the risk of widespread transmission in the Americas is low.

Several dozen dengue cases in Massachusetts

In Massachusetts, the CDC reports 50 cases of dengue fever. In the continental United States, only Florida and New York have reported more cases.

In Massachusetts, most cases are in Suffolk County, but at least one case has been reported in Worcester County, according to a CDC map.

The state health ministry is concerned about the number of people traveling to Central and South America, where record numbers of dengue cases are being reported. In the first four and a half months of this year, a 238% increase in cases was reported in these regions compared to the same period last year.

Dr. Michael Hirsh, Worcester’s medical director, and Soloe Dennis, director of the city’s health department, were unavailable for comment, according to a city spokesman.

Public health officials should distribute prevention tips to the public, the CDC said.

Tiger mosquito: can transmit dengue fever in Massachusetts.

The species of mosquito that transmits dengue fever, Aedes aegypti, is not found in Massachusetts, said Frank Cornine, a biologist with the Central Massachusetts Mosquito Control Project. The organization sprays mosquito repellents in more than 40 cities and towns in central Massachusetts, including Worcester.

However, there is another species of mosquito here in New England, the tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, that can potentially infect people with dengue fever, Cornine said.

The tiger mosquito is native to Southeast Asia and was first discovered in the United States in Texas in 1985. It was found in abandoned tires filled with rainwater, which provided a breeding ground for mosquito eggs to hatch.

Remove standing water

Cornine stressed the importance of removing standing water to reduce the risk of dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases. “It’s the little things you can do to destroy habitats. If you destroy habitats, there are no more mosquitoes.”

That means dumping water out of containers, buckets, tarps and birdbaths. Clogged gutters also need to be cleaned, Cornine said, because in the spring, seed pods fall off maple trees and land in gutters with standing water. That’s where mosquitoes can hatch within seven to 10 days.

Additionally, mosquitoes don’t travel great distances, so if you see one on your property, it probably hatched there or nearby, according to Cornine.

America: Record number of dengue cases

The CDC is reporting a record number of dengue infections in America this year, surpassing the previous annual record. It said there were nearly 10 million cases between Jan. 1 and Monday, double the number last year when 4.6 million cases were reported, including 4,000 deaths.

In many tropical and subtropical regions, dengue transmission is highest during the warmer, wetter months. The number of cases is expected to rise as global temperatures rise. Warmer weather means mosquitoes have a wider range, according to the CDC.

Watch for dengue symptoms

Symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, muscle aches, joint and bone pain, pain behind the eyes, headache, and low white blood cell count.

Severe cases of dengue occur in one in 20 people with severe symptoms, with bleeding, shock and breathing problems. Symptoms include abdominal pain or tenderness, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the inner lining of organs that produce mucus such as the nose, mouth, lungs and stomach, lethargy or restlessness, a progressive increase in red blood cells and enlarged liver.

Infants, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with certain medical conditions are at increased risk of severe dengue disease.

There are no approved antiviral drugs to treat dengue fever. Medical care and follow-up are the most effective means of reducing infection and death. Rapid fluid replacement, recommended by the World Health Organization, can reduce dengue mortality from 13% to less than 1%.

Vaccinations are not recommended for travelers, adults or people without previous infection.

Preventive measures taken

Measures taken by the CDC to address the rising number of cases include an emergency response plan that went into effect in early April, monthly updates on the spread of dengue fever, increased laboratory capacity, and increased public education on prevention.

Healthcare providers are encouraged to request tests approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to detect dengue fever.

Local health authorities should conduct the testing, the CDC said, and ensure that all patients suspected of having dengue fever have access. In addition, they should inform the public when infections are detected and report all cases to the CDC.

The CDC advised residents to take steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites, such as using approved repellents and wearing long pants and shirts, keeping windows closed whenever possible and removing standing water.

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