Some People Infected by Mosquitoes in the Carribean Diagnosed in Florida with Dengue Fever and Chikungunya

Foreign mosquito-borne illnesses could be brought to Florida by infected people returning from Haiti and other Carribean countries: Dengue fever was diagnosed in 24 people and the chikungunya virus affected 18 people in 2014. The Florida Department of Health said that all of those infected traveled to the Caribbean or South America, with the most dangerous location being Haiti.

Dengue fever is the leading cause of death in the tropics and subtropics, affecting 400 million people per year. The mosquito-born illness is endemic in the Caribbean, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands. Similarly, the chikungunya virus is also transmitted by mosquitoes and is characterized by a high fever and joint pain. It was first discovered in the Caribbean last year, but outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Asia, Europe, and on islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Blood samples of those infected were examined at the Florida Medical Entomological Laboratory in Vero Beach, confirming these diseases in the 42 people. Health officials are worried because if mosquitoes manage to bite those who were infected, Florida could be facing an epidemic this summer.

"The threat is greater than I've seen in my lifetime," said Walter Tabachnick, the director of the Florida Medical Entomological Laboratory, in this Fox News article. "Sooner or later, our mosquitoes will pick it up and transmit it to us. That is the imminent threat."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn against these mosquito-borne illnesses, which can be fatal (dengue) or cause serious and lingering symptoms (both). Although chikungunya isn't deadly, it can contort its victims with serious pain. There's plentiful evidence of that in the Caribbean, where health officials reported over 100,000 suspected or confirmed cases of the virus yesterday.

The Florida Department of Health announced precautionary measures for Floridians to take in order to contain the presence of mosquitoes and to prevent themselves from becoming infected. The department urges residents to drain standing water to stop mosquitoes from multiplying, cover skin with clothing and use insect repellent, and cover doors and windows with screens to keep mosquitoes out of the house.

Health officials are also warning those traveling to Brazil in a week for the 2014 World Cup. There have been high-alert warnings issued at three venues in the South American host country: Natal, Fortaleza, and Recife. It is suggested travelers follow the prevention measures as well.