Outbreaks of febrile illnesses similar to dengue fever have been recorded throughout history. Such illnesses were described in Chinese medical writings dating back to 265 AD.
Suzanne Moore Shepherd MD, in her article "Dengue Fever" which appeared in emedicine on webMD (Oct. 23, 2009) points out that in 1789, Benjamin Rush, MD, published an account of a probable dengue fever epidemic that had occurred in Philadelphia in 1780. He coined the term “breakbone fever” to describe the painful symptoms reported by one of his patients. Outbreaks of illnesses occurred sporadically every ten to thirty years, until after World War II.
How are People Infected with Dengue Fever?
Kay M Tomashek MD, from her CDC Commentary post on medscape.com (July 19, 2010) states that mosquitoes are the carriers of this virus. Virus transmission occurs from the bite of an infected female mosquito, primarily Aedes aegypti. The risk of being bitten by a mosquito is highest during early morning and late afternoon, although mosquitoes may feed at any time during the day. An individual may be infected up to 4 times during his or her lifetime. Once bitten the virus has an incubation period of 3-14 days.
In the Americas, dengue epidemics were rare postwar because the original carrier mosquitoes had been eradicated from most regions through coordinated vector-control efforts. But regular mosquito control spraying was halted in the early 1970s because of environmental concerns. By the 1990s, a new mosquito capable of carrying the virus repopulated most of the countries in which that species had been eliminated.
Virus carrying mosquitoes are abundant year-round in most countries in the Caribbean basin. Outbreaks of dengue were reported in 2005 and 2006 in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, Barbados, Curacao, Cuba, Guadeloupe, and Martinique.
They are also found in limited areas of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands.
Locations of Dengue Fever in the United States and Mexico
Dr Shepard goes on to state that, in 1986, the first clearly identified local transmission of dengue in the United States occurred in Texas. Carriers of the virus were believed to have crossed the border from Mexico. Since then, seasonal infection has been reported in both Texas and Hawaii, and in 2001-2002, Hawaii experienced its first outbreak of dengue since the end of World War II.
Two mosquito types capable of carrying the virus are currently seasonally abundant in some areas of the southwestern and southeastern United States, including Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and mid to south Florida. One type has also been reported sporadically in portions of North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, Maryland, and New Jersey. Their range extends almost as far north as the Great Lakes
In 1999, more than 300 cases of dengue fever were reported from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.
What are the Symptoms of Dengue Fever?
According to Dr Tomashek, many people infected with dengue virus will be asymptomatic, but symptoms can range from a mild illness with fever to classic dengue or DHF.
Dengue fever can present as an acute febrile illness with 2 or more of the following:
- headache
- eye pain (behind the eyes)
- muscle or joint pain
- rash (might become itchy)
- hemorrhagic manifestation (bruising)
- nausea
- vomiting
How to Prevent Contracting Dengue Fever
The Centers for Disease Control considers Dengue a global concern
Neither vaccine nor drugs are available to prevent dengue infection. Symptoms may be treated with fever reducers, such as acetaminophen, and oral rehydration or intravenous fluids. In severe cases doctors may need to treat blood pressure in their patients. Aspirin, aspirin-containing drugs, and ibuprofen should be avoided in patients with dengue viral infections due to the possibility of bleeding. Early recognition and treatment of severe dengue will reduce the risk of death.
Travelers should consider the use of insect repellents to ward off mosquito bites. Learn more about possible symptoms, watch the video Caribbean Dangers
Wendy Getchell - I am a retired Registered Nurse writing articles on health as well as many other areas of interest. I have taken the life of a freelance ...
Join the Conversation