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An Aedes mosquito and a transmission electron micrograph showing dengue virus particles. | Photo courtesy of the NIAID/CDC/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)
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Two more Baldwin Park residents have locally acquired dengue — an illness that mosquitoes transmit — in addition to one case announced last week, prompting health officials Wednesday to report the region’s “unprecedented cluster.”
No one in the three-patient cluster had a history of traveling to dengue-prone areas, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
The Baldwin Park cases are “an unprecedented number of locally transmitted cases for a region where dengue has not previously been transmitted by mosquitoes,” according to the county health department.
In October and November 2023, health officials in Pasadena and Long Beach reported single cases of locally acquired dengue.
“These additional cases of local virus transmission are a stark reminder for all Los Angeles County residents that simple steps to prevent mosquito breeding and mosquito bites can lower the risk of mosquito-borne diseases and prevent more sustained transmission in the future,” according to a Public Health statement.
Dengue is usually transmitted to humans through the bite of an Aedes mosquito that carries the illness. Most patients never show any symptoms, but 25% will develop fever, nausea, vomiting, rash and pain affecting the eyes, joints or bones.
Symptoms generally last at most a week, and people usually fully recover within two weeks, according to the county health department. Dengue-related deaths are very rare.
There are no medicines to treat dengue, only supportive medicines to help with fever and pain, according to health officials. A dengue vaccine exists, but it is not approved for use in U.S. travelers visiting but not living in areas where dengue is endemic.
“Reducing exposure to mosquitoes and the risk for mosquito bites are crucial to preventing transmission of mosquito-borne disease, including dengue fever,” LA County Health Officer Dr. Muntu Davis said in a statement. “This can be as simple as using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites, eliminating any standing water around your home where mosquitoes can breed, and keeping your home mosquito-free by using or fixing screens on your doors and windows. These straightforward measures can significantly reduce the risk of mosquito-borne disease for both you and your neighbors.”
Dengue symptoms often mirror those of other viral illnesses, and officials 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.”
The Public Health Department is working with the city of Baldwin Park and the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District to provide outreach to residents and offer information about dengue and ways to prevent mosquito bites, officials said. The San Gabriel Valley Vector Control District is also increasing mosquito-trapping operations in the area.
“The city will continue to update the community throughout this process,” Baldwin Park Mayor Emmanuel J. Estrada said in a statement. “In the meantime, we urge all residents to use EPA-registered insect repellent, eliminate standing water around your homes and ensure your window and door screens are in good condition. Let’s demonstrate the strength of the Baldwin Park community by working together to protect our community and limit the spread of dengue.”
For more information, visit: publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/VectorDengue.htm.
