Advisories were in effect in Broward and Palm Beach counties after health department officials announced that a Miami Beach man had come down with a suspected case of locally-acquired dengue fever.
The announcement from the Miami-Dade Health Department follows word earlier this week of what was described as a small outbreak of the exotic, mosquito-borne disease in Key West.
That prompted a warning from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the disease, which can be serious and even fatal on rare occasions, could spread.
Candy Sims, a spokeswoman for the Broward County Health Department, said no suspected cases have been reported locally. "But we are on high alert and monitoring the situation," she said.
Earlier this week, Harold Margolis, chief of CDC’s dengue branch, issued a report in which he said, "We’re concerned that if dengue gains a foothold in Key West, it will travel to other southern cities where the mosquito that transmits dengue is present, like Miami.”
Good Grief.. something else to worry about now! They don’t mention Swine Flu or West Nile Virus much anymore I noticed lately but I know they are still around. You don’t think about it much in the summer like you do in the wintertime though. I know NOW that what Mom and I had was Viral so I am gonna be on guard more.
Have a great day Elaine!
Well this year you won’t have to worry about a separate shot for H1N1 vaccine, it will be part of the 2010 flu vaccine. Glad you and your Mom are both recovered from that nasty virus you had, sounded bad. You have a great weekend Carol.