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Virginia resident has state’s 1st locally acquired case of dengue fever
WTOP • • health
Key Points:
- Virginia health officials have confirmed the state's first locally acquired case of dengue, a viral disease typically linked to international travel, in a Northern Virginia resident with no recent travel history.
- The infection likely occurred when a local mosquito bit a traveler infected with dengue overseas and then transmitted the virus to the second individual.
- Health officials emphasize that the public risk remains low but advise protecting against mosquito bites during the mosquito season, which runs from early May to early November in Virginia.
- Dengue is spread by Aedes mosquitoes and is not transmitted directly between people; symptoms include fever, eye pain, muscle and joint pain, nausea, and rash, with most recovering within a week.
- Preventive measures recommended include using EPA-registered insect repellent and eliminating standing water around homes to reduce mosquito breeding sites.
