Two more locally acquired cases of the mosquito-borne illness dengue have been confirmed in the Baldwin Park area, adding to a cluster of three cases in the area that were announced earlier this year, county health officials said Tuesday.
Health officials again stressed that locally acquired cases of dengue are extremely rare in areas where it has not been previously transmitted by mosquitoes. The county previously reported the cluster of three infections in the Baldwin Park area, and subsequently confirmed a case in a Panorama City resident and another in a resident in El Monte.
The two new cases announced Tuesday bring the Baldwin Park cluster of cases to five. The cases in Panorama City and El Monte did not appear to be related to the Baldwin Park cases.
“We are still investigating, but these new cases raise concern about the potential for continued local spread of dengue through the bite of infected mosquitoes in Baldwin Park,” Dr. Muntu Davis, Los Angeles County health officer, said in a statement. “Many people infected may not show symptoms, making it challenging to detect and control the spread of the disease. However, with the help of the community, we can make a difference.
“We need the support of everyone living and working in areas where mosquito-borne diseases are a concern. As part of this investigation, Public Health and San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District teams will conduct outreach and offer testing for dengue and enhanced mosquito control services for those living and working in the area. It’s also important for everyone to focus on protecting themselves from mosquito bites and eliminating places where mosquitoes can breed and grow. Together, we can protect our communities from dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases.”
None of the local patients had any history of travel to areas where dengue is endemic.
In October and November of last year, single locally acquired cases of dengue were confirmed by health officials in Pasadena and Long Beach.
Health officials urged residents to use insect repellent, remove standing water that can attract mosquitoes and install or repair window screens to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
Dengue is generally spread by a bite from an infected Aedes mosquito. Most patients never exhibit any symptoms, but one in four will develop signs including fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and aches and pains to the eyes, joints or bones.
The symptoms generally last no more than a week, and people usually fully recover within two weeks. Deaths from the virus are extremely rare, health officials said.
Health officials noted that the symptoms of dengue often mirror those of other viruses, and they urged health-care providers to be “vigilant for dengue fever in patients with acute febrile illness and test for and report such cases of mosquito-borne diseases.”