Page 128 - South Mississippi Living - May, 2025

HEALTHY LIVING
story by Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
Here we go... these pesky mosquitoes are making everyone sick again. Mosquitoes are carriers of numerous illnesses, one of which is dengue fever. This may seem especially familiar because of recent news coverage. Dengue virus cases are high in the Americas right now, including in the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
According to the Centers For Disease Control, dengue cases have increased substantially globally in the last five years,
with the most pronounced increase in the Americas. As of March 6 of this year, more than 760,000 dengue cases have been reported in 2025, a 15 percent increase compared to the last five years. Fortunately, as of the end of March, no cases had been reported in the state of Mississippi.
Dengue is a viral illness that is passed to humans via bites from infected mosquitoes. Known as break-bone fever, it is most widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Many individuals infected with the virus
may not show symptoms or may experience only mild illness. Typical symptoms include high fever, headaches, body pain, nausea, and rashes. However, some cases progress to severe dengue, which requires hospitalization.
In serious instances, dengue can be life- threatening.
Significant dengue outbreaks can increase the risk of dengue cases among travelers from the U.S. With a rise in travel-related infections and mosquitoes that transmit dengue in some areas of the United States, small outbreaks could potentially happen.
Clinicians use specific tests to diagnose dengue with a blood sample, but considerations that should be acknowledged are a person’s recent travel history, vaccination records, symptoms, and overall medical history. Diagnosis from a medical professional is vital because dengue can mimic many other illnesses. Dengue can cause high fevers and result in severe muscle, bone, and joint pain, as the name breakbone fever implies. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease is often asymptomatic, and most people recover within a week. Dengue is treated with pain medicine, as there is no specific treatment. Severe cases require hospitalization.
Protect yourself from mosquito bites to lower your risk of contracting dengue. Wear clothes that cover as much of your body as possible, use window screens, and use mosquito repellent, such as those that contain DEET.
128 | May 2025
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
EVER?
WHAT IS DENGUE F
SYMPTOMS
High Fever Body Pain
Headache Rashes
Nausea