MIAMI, Fla. - Health officials in Miami and Ocala are reporting the first suspected cases of dengue fever, a potentially serious mosquito-borne illness that had once disappeared from the United States.
Dengue fever is a flulike illness spread by the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito (ay-EE-deez ee-JIP-ty), a common urban mosquito in the U.S. and Caribbean. It's known as breakbone fever because of the intense joint pain suffered in extreme cases.
Health officials say the Miami Beach man who is suspected of contracting the disease has fully recovered. No further information was released Thursday about the case in Ocala.
A recent study revealed five percent of Key West residents show evidence they have been exposed to the virus, but few became ill.
Related Articles
- Wildlife refuge sees record attendance in January
- New documents released in Smallwood's case
- Woman dies, hit by car in South Fort Myers
- Remembering Danielle Chapman, Estero H.S. teen killed
- United Way VITA program gives free tax assistance
- Naples Zoo welcomes 2 newborns to the family
- Coalition of Immokalee workers biking to Trader Joe's debut
- Local Coast Guard veterans participate in history program
- CCSO arrests 2 for mobile meth lab
- Ft. Myers intersection congested after 4-car crash

