While Los Angeles County is reporting three locally acquired cases of dengue this year — which is rare for the region — there have been at least 3,085 cases nationally of the locally acquired virus so far this year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
There have been roughly double the number of locally acquired dengue cases so far this year nationally compared to last year, according to the CDC. Puerto Rico currently accounts for the bulk of these cases – with over 2,960 reported. The US territory declared a public health emergency back in March.
“The City of Baldwin Park is aware of the recent cases of locally acquired dengue in our community. Although the risk of transmission is low, we must take this situation seriously and act proactively,” said Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada.
Dengue virus is spread through mosquito bites. The most common symptom is fever with aches, nausea, vomiting and rash. Symptoms usually begin within two weeks of being bitten by an infected mosquito and last for 2-7 days. Most people recover after about a week.
Locally acquired cases mean that those infected have no history of traveling to an area where dengue fever normally spreads. Local dengue transmission is usually common in tropical and subtropical areas of the world—including Florida and the U.S. territories in the Caribbean.
Last year, only two locally acquired cases were reported in the state of California, the first local cases in the state reported in over a decade, according to CDC data.
The CDC issued a health alert in June warning healthcare providers of an increased risk of dengue virus infection this year. Globally, new cases of dengue have been at an all-time high, according to the CDC. The agency also noted that cases are likely to increase as global temperatures rise.
The best way to prevent dengue is to avoid mosquito bites, according to the CDC.