A Florida woman died on her 80th birthday after contracting dengue fever, a mosquito-borne viral infection rarely spread locally in the continental U.S., as the state grapples with an unusually large outbreak.
Gay Rabb Small passed away on September 4, just one week after her diagnosis, according to her daughter. Small, who was active and maintained a daily walking routine, had likely been infected during one of her outdoor strolls before developing concerning symptoms, including a tremor.
Rare Local Transmission Raises Alarms
Most dengue cases in the U.S. have historically been linked to international travel, but health officials report an increasing number of infections acquired locally in Florida. The state has recorded 880 cases this year—far surpassing last year’s numbers—with more than 2,500 reported nationwide, according to The New York Times.
Eva Harris, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeley, called the trend an “eye-opener” given the rarity of domestic transmission. Florida’s warm, humid climate has provided ideal breeding conditions for disease-carrying mosquitoes, fueling the outbreak.
Emergency Response Ramps Up
Three Florida counties—Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco—have declared emergencies, with the CDC allocating $800,000 to bolster mosquito control and surveillance efforts. Meanwhile, travel-associated cases have been identified as far north as Maine and Minnesota.
Experts warn the situation could worsen. Ira Longini, a University of Florida biostatistician, predicted increasing dengue outbreaks in the U.S. in the coming years. “This is a significant public health concern,” he cautioned.
Though many dengue infections produce no symptoms, severe cases can lead to hospitalization or death, particularly among older adults like Small. Health officials urge residents to take precautions, including using insect repellent and eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/florida-woman-dies-of-rare-mosquito-borne-virus