The San Diego County Health Department is investigating what health officials suspect is the primary locally transmitted case of dengue fever, the tropical disease whose transmission has recently increased nationwide.
An ongoing outbreak of the viral disease – often called dengue fever – across much of South America has led to an area increase within the variety of travel-related dengue cases in San Diego County. However, local transmission is more worrisome since it suggests that an area mosquito bit an infected person after which transmitted that infection to a second person in the realm.
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Such a series of transmission normally fizzles out by itself, but it may well proceed indefinitely if more mosquitoes feed on an infected person before their infection is detected. Out of an abundance of caution, health authorities often do every part they’ll to interrupt possible chains of transmission.
To that end, the county's vector control program began hand-spraying mosquito-killing insecticides on Friday and worked through the weekend to treat a roughly 60-acre area west of Orange Glen High School in east Escondido, said to contain about 170 homes the neighborhood includes the infected individual living. Emergency services will begin spraying insecticides from trucks inside an expanded radius on Monday.
The spraying work is anticipated to last until Thursday. Similar efforts recently occurred in Oceanside and the Mount Hope neighborhood of San Diego after travel-related dengue cases emerged.
Similar efforts were made in 2016 to stop the Zika virus from gaining a foothold in an area mosquito population.
Dr. Ankita Kadakia, the county's interim health officer, said Sunday that she believes the general risk of additional transmission is low.
Symptoms of dengue infection generally appear 4 to seven days after a mosquito bite and include fever, chills, pain, nausea, vomiting and rash. Most people get better without significant medical consequences; However, some severe cases may cause fatal symptoms corresponding to shock and shortness of breath.
Local transmission is just not limited to San Diego County. Los Angeles County has reported five locally transmitted dengue cases to date this yr, with Long Beach and Pasadena reporting their first cases in 2023.
Vector control experts are urging the general public to do every part they’ll to eliminate mosquito hatching areas on their properties. The tiny Aedes aegypti mosquito that transmits dengue breeds in shallow pools of water, and a recent demonstration showed that backyard drains often contain enough moisture to breed swarms even in the course of the current dry season.
The county offers free mosquito control inspections for anyone concerned about ongoing infestations. Service requests will be made by email at vector@sdcounty.ca.gov or by telephone at 858-694-2888.
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