CITRUS COUNTY, Fla. — Health officials have confirmed a locally acquired case of dengue in Citrus County, according to the Florida Department of Health (DOH) in Citrus County.
DOH-Citrus said it is coordinating with Citrus County Mosquito Control to increase surveillance and prevention efforts, including truck fogging, aerial larviciding and inspections for mosquito breeding areas, according to a news release.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause flu-like symptoms including fever, severe muscle and joint pain, and rash. Symptoms typically appear within 15 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito. Officials said dengue is not contagious person-to-person and is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito, per the release.
Health officials are urging residents to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites, including wearing long sleeves and pants, using EPA-registered insect repellents and removing standing water around homes.
The Department of Health said it continues statewide monitoring for mosquito-borne illnesses including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue.
Residents experiencing symptoms are encouraged to contact their healthcare provider.
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