LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Two more locally transmitted cases of the mosquito-borne disease dengue fever have been confirmed in Los Angeles County, making it the county’s 11th case this year, health officials announced Wednesday.
One of the new cases was at Baldwin Park. This is the seventh case in the city’s cluster and “demonstrates the continued community spread of dengue fever caused by infected mosquitoes,” the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said in a release.
The second new case is a resident of the Hollywood Hills. Health officials did not provide details about where the person may have been bitten by an infected mosquito, but said the patient had no recent travel history.
A total of 11 domestic cases of dengue fever have been confirmed in the district this year. Other cases have been confirmed in Panorama City and El Monte.
“These two additional cases raise concerns about the potential for continued localized spread of dengue fever in our community. Healthcare providers must quickly identify patients infected with dengue fever. , plays an important role in managing the disease,” said Los Angeles County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis. statement. “Healthcare workers should consider that patients with dengue fever have signs and symptoms of dengue fever, such as fever, headache, eye pain, muscle, bone, or joint pain, nausea and vomiting, and should treat patients with dengue fever regardless of their travel history. inspection should be ordered.”
Health officials said it is important for people living and working in the area to prioritize mosquito control and preventive measures to reduce the risk of disease.
The first known case of locally transmitted dengue fever in Los Angeles was recorded last October.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which declared a dengue epidemic in March, locally transmitted cases of dengue fever have also been reported in Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2024.
According to CDC data, 4,439 locally transmitted dengue cases have been confirmed nationwide this year.
You can get the virus from the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the ankle-biting mosquito. It was first discovered in California over the past decade and has since become established throughout the state.
“The San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector-Borne Control District is committed to protecting our residents through enhanced mosquito control measures and proactive public outreach,” said Jason Farnd, SGVMVCD District Manager. “We are ramping up efforts to reduce adult mosquito populations in the region, including targeted backpack and truck-borne treatments, increased surveillance, and ongoing testing. It plays an important role in this fight by eliminating standing water.”
Protect yourself with EPA-approved repellents. ”
Symptoms of dengue fever include fever, nausea, vomiting, rash, and body aches. Symptoms usually last two to seven days and most people recover in about a week, but serious and life-threatening illness can occur, PPHD said.
There are no drugs or vaccines to prevent dengue fever, and most treatments include rest, hydration, and monitoring for early symptoms.
The Los Angeles County Vector Management District advised people to remove all standing water. Most mosquitoes lay their eggs on the water surface, but Aedes mosquitoes lay their eggs on the sides of containers, so simply dumping the water may not be enough to get rid of them.
Residents are encouraged to eliminate plant trays and keep repellents on hand to prevent the spread of Aedes mosquitoes.
“Mosquitoes breed in hot weather, increasing the risk of bites and mosquito-borne diseases,” Davis says. “People should follow these simple steps to reduce their exposure to mosquitoes and the risk of mosquito bites: 1) Use insect repellent on you and your family. 2) Avoid mosquitoes laying eggs. Remove any standing water around your home where they can spawn and breed; and 3) Use or install window and door screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home. Please fix it.”
