Lee County Mosquito Control on alert after Florida records 149 dengue cases

One of amateur bird photographer Joe Abel's biggest obstacles isn't capturing the perfect shot during his outings — it's battling mosquitoes. “As I'm walking, you know, I get a bird lined up, and I got to smack myself,” Abel said. He admitted that he often forgets to use mosquito repellent. “I carry spray in my car. Most of the time, I forget to put it on,” he said. This rainy season, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like dengue has increased. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports 149 cases of dengue in Florida. The disease, transmitted by mosquitoes, can cause fever, nausea, rashes and pain in the muscles, joints or bones. Jenifer McBride, with the Lee County Mosquito Control District, shared how the disease has personally affected someone she knows. “My best friend's father lives in Puerto Rico, and last summer he was actually hospitalized with dengue,” McBride said. Of the 149 cases in Florida, 110 were contracted while the individuals were traveling. The remaining 39 cases were locally transmitted by mosquitoes. Dengue is transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, or the backyard mosquito, as McBride calls it. This insect lays eggs in places containing standing water, including bird baths and plants like bromeliads. McBride said the first line of defense against dengue is to dump standing water out of places that contain it. She and her team are on high alert as the disease spreads. “We're always concerned, but it certainly brings a new heightened awareness of being extra concerned, of making sure we're protecting our citizens,” she said. Although Lee County has not reported any locally transmitted dengue cases, McBride emphasized the importance of collaboration among mosquito control districts across the state. “We're all aware that we need to pitch in and make sure that we're not getting anything that's endemic, that we're fighting it and making sure it doesn't become something that we see every day,” she said. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.