ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health in Orange County has issued a Mosquito Alert following the confirmation of a second locally acquired case of Dengue fever in the Apopka area.
In response to the elevated alert level, Orange County Mosquito Control announced it is increasing mosquito mitigation and surveillance operations across the county.
Health officials previously issued a Mosquito-borne Illness Advisory on Sept. 2 after detecting an initial locally acquired Dengue fever case in the Pine Hills area.
The confirmation of the second local case met the established threshold required for state officials to issue a formal Mosquito Alert.
Orange County Mosquito Control is expanding its response beyond standard recommendations.
Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control, detailed the agency’s treatment strategy to prevent further spread. “We are conducting targeted control measures and enhanced surveillance in Pine Hills, Apopka and throughout Orange County,” Harrison said. “While CDC guidance calls for targeted treatment of areas of concern, we are taking additional measures. Given the increased Dengue Fever cases we are seeing in other parts of Florida, we want to be proactive to reduce the risk of further local transmission in Orange County.”
To support these efforts, the agency recently introduced new testing technology to its laboratory.
The process uses PCR technology to analyze genetic material in mosquito samples to detect viruses.
“Previously, we had to send samples outside of the laboratory,” Harrison said. “Now, we can potentially have results in the same day, which will lead to faster responses and mitigation efforts.”
Dengue fever, commonly called Breakbone Fever, is a tropical and subtropical illness transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, a species that does not travel far.
Common symptoms of the virus include a 104-degree Fahrenheit fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, vomiting, swollen glands and a skin rash.
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