Pasadena became the first city in California to detect a local infection of the mosquito-borne dengue virus on October 20, according to the Pasadena Public Health Department.
Dengue is an illness commonly spread via mosquito bites, with the CDC saying at least half of the globe’s population lives in areas at risk of the disease.
Dengue cases are not uncommon in those who have spent time abroad, but are exceedingly rare in the United States. There have been more than 500 cases reported of locally transmitted dengue in Texas and Puerto Rico this year, which is already a rise over 2022. The case reported from Pasadena is the first of its kind in California.
However, public health experts say people should not worry about a wider spread of the disease. “Pasadena Public Health Department has been conducting surveillance and investigation of mosquito-borne diseases in Pasadena for years,” said epidemiologist, Dr. Matthew Feaster, in a statement on the 21st. He continued, “Our work so far, in partnership with the Vector Control District, gives us confidence that this was likely an isolated incident and that there is very low risk of additional dengue exposure in Pasadena.”
The CDC describes normal symptoms of dengue as a mild to severe fever accompanied with the following: nausea, vomiting, rash, and aches and pains – mainly behind the eyes. Symptoms only last from 2 to 7 days.
Pasadena Public Health Department officials said that the infected resident is recovering. They have also sent a team to the neighborhood of the infected person to ensure the community knows how to combat mosquitoes as they monitor the situation.