Central Florida Public Media | By Joe Mario Pedersen
After last weekend’s showers and a week of heat forecast, conditions are ideal for mosquito reproduction, which has officials concerned over the spread of mosquito-borne disease. Last year, mosquito control across the state saw record numbers in travel-related cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue.
Now, it’s expecting another season of above-average numbers.
“It would be surprising if we aren’t at the same level that we were last year,” said Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control. “You could assume that going into the subsequent year that you’re going to see a little more activity, because rarely does it drop off to extreme levels from year to year. It’s normally a gradual decline.”
Dengue, also known as “bone break fever,” causes a variety of symptoms including fever, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and eye pain. In more severe cases, it can cause abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, and bleeding from the gums or nose, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Last year, the state reported 911 travel-related cases, according to data from the Florida Department of Health. There were also 85 local cases reported.
This story was originally produced by WLRN, South Florida’s only public radio station at 91.3 FM, as part of a content sharing partnership with MIA Media Group. Read more at WLRN.org
