'Breakbone Fever' Spreading in Florida for First Time in 15 Years
Cases of dengue fever, commonly known as "breakbone fever" for the severe body aches it can cause, are spreading locally in Florida for the first time in years, with Pinellas County reporting its first locally acquired case in over a decade.
So far this year, eight people in Florida's Hillsborough County and two in Pinellas County have contracted the mosquito-borne illness locally, meaning they were infected within the state rather than while traveling elsewhere. Dengue is not native to Florida, and most U.S. cases involve people who were exposed to the virus abroad before returning home.
How Dengue Spreads
Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes. A mosquito becomes infected after biting a person who already carries the virus in their blood, and can then spread it to others roughly a week later. The virus cannot be passed directly from person to person.
About 25% of people bitten by an infected mosquito go on to develop symptoms, according to the CDC, which can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and pain in the muscles and joints, the aches responsible for the "breakbone" nickname. Treatment typically involves acetaminophen, rest and fluids, though a small share of cases can progress to a more severe, life-threatening form of the illness.
A Broader National Trend
Florida isn't alone. There have been 1,471 dengue cases reported nationwide so far this year, according to the most recent CDC data. Virginia reported its first-ever locally acquired case earlier this month, after health officials determined a local mosquito had bitten a resident who recently contracted dengue while traveling internationally, then passed the virus to a second Virginia resident who hadn't traveled at all. California reported an extremely rare locally acquired case in Pasadena as well, which officials described as unusual for the continental U.S.
In March, the CDC issued an alert about a higher-than-expected number of dengue cases among American travelers, the typical way the virus makes its way into the country before any local spread occurs.
Why Cases Keep Climbing
Health officials point to a combination of factors driving the increase, including rising global temperatures that allow disease-carrying mosquitoes to expand into new regions, along with more frequent travel to areas where dengue is already common. The CDC recommends that people in at-risk areas wear long sleeves and use insect repellent to reduce the risk of mosquito bites, noting that avoiding bites remains the most effective way to prevent infection.
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