First locally acquired case of dengue virus reported in San Diego County in Escondido – NBC 7 San Diego

San Diego County health officials reported their first case of locally acquired dengue virus on Sunday, which was contracted from an Escondido resident.

The sick person did not travel to an area where the virus was circulating, officials said. No other locally acquired cases have been identified, although at least 49 cases of travel-related dengue have been reported in the county this year, according to officials.

“While the risk of widespread transmission of dengue remains low in San Diego County, County Public Health and Vector Control are working closely together to respond quickly and prevent mosquitoes from spreading the disease in this area,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, Interim County Public Health Officer.

To prevent the spread of the disease, County Vector Control began mosquito control at about 170 homes in Escondido this weekend. Treatments began Friday and will continue through Oct. 10, officials said.

Vector Control conducted similar treatments in Oceanside in September and in the Mount Hope area of ​​San Diego in July. Both treatments were initiated as a precautionary measure to prevent possible local spread of dengue fever due to travel-related dengue cases and the high number of Aedes mosquitoes in the neighborhood.

Dengue fever is a tropical viral disease that is not common in the United States. Since the invasive Aedes mosquitoes were first discovered in San Diego County in 2014, there have been no locally acquired cases of dengue fever.

Dengue fever is transmitted when a mosquito bites an infected person and then feeds on another person. It can take four to seven days for someone bitten by a dengue-infected mosquito to experience symptoms. Dengue fever can be diagnosed through a blood test.

The most common symptoms are fever, chills, pain, nausea, vomiting and rashes. Symptoms can be moderate and last two to seven days. Most people recover after about a week. Symptoms can also be severe and fatal, including shock and shortness of breath, and may require hospitalization. There are no specific medications to treat dengue fever.

Day-biting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, also known as “ankle biters,” are the main vectors of dengue fever. These mosquitoes like to live and breed near people, often in yards and in small amounts of water.

How to prevent and protect yourself from mosquitoes

Officials have offered the following tips for mosquito prevention and protection:

• Discard, empty, or remove all items inside and outside of homes that can hold water, such as plant saucers, rain barrels, buckets, garbage cans, toys, old tires, and wheelbarrows. Mosquito fish are available free of charge at locations throughout the county and can be used to combat mosquito breeding in backyard standing water sources, such as neglected swimming pools, ponds, fountains and horse troughs
• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne diseases by wearing long sleeves and pants or using insect repellent when outdoors
• Use insect repellents that contain EPA-approved ingredients such as DEET, picaridin, lemon eucalyptus oil, or IR3535
• Make sure fly screens on windows and doors are in good condition and secured to keep insects out

County technicians began working to reduce the number of adult mosquitoes that can spread dengue fever by applying AquaDuet, a pesticide approved for use by the Environmental Protection Agency. In doing so, they used ultra-low volume backpack sprayers in specific areas and trucks to apply the product to a larger portion of the area.

In addition, the district initially informed residents on Friday and left door hangers on the houses in the treatment area. Treatment limits and additional information can be found on the Vector Control Adult Mosquito Control webpage.

San Diego County Vector Control Program

The treatment product is low risk for people and pets and dissolves in approximately 20 to 30 minutes. People in the area can avoid or minimize their exposure to the pesticide by taking simple steps:

• Stay indoors and bring pets indoors if possible
• Close doors and windows and turn off fans that bring outside air into the home
• Wash any pet food and water bowls left outside during treatment
• Cover fish ponds to avoid direct sunlight
• As usual, rinse fruits and vegetables from your garden with water before cooking or eating them
• Wipe down or cover outdoor items such as toys and grills

Beekeepers and those who keep their insects outdoors have been urged to protect hives and habitats during treatment. Beekeepers registered with the county Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures can request to be notified in advance if a pesticide that could affect bees is used on flowering plants in their area.

Normal activities can be resumed after 30 minutes of treatment.

Los Angeles County recently reported five cases of locally transmitted dengue fever this year. The first cases of locally acquired dengue fever occurred in Long Beach and Pasadena in late 2023.