Florida county declares state of emergency as dengue fever cases reach 170

Related video: First dengue death confirmed in Hillsborough County

TAMPA, Fla. ( WFLA ) – Officials in Hillsborough County, Fla., have declared a local state of emergency as dengue fever cases reach a new high.

According to the latest state data, Hillsborough County has 170 locally acquired dengue cases that have been reported since the outbreak began.

Hillsborough County leads in the number of Florida dengue cases by a massive margin. In total, there were 190 cases reported across Florida in the state’s data, although this does not include the first case confirmed in Polk County Thursday morning.

In response to the spike, Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed an executive order declaring a state of local emergency that immediately went into effect on Thursday, Sept. 24.

It will last seven days unless it is rescinded or extended.

The state of emergency will allow the county to take emergency measures to protect the community from dengue fever. It also opens up the possibility of federal reimbursement for certain expenses.

Dengue typically spreads via infected mosquitos, and its symptoms — which can include fever, aches, rashes or nausea — will present around two weeks after a bite, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say. More severe symptoms include frequent vomiting, stomach pain, blood in the stool or vomit, or bleeding from the nose or gums. Severe cases can be life-threatening.

Treatment of dengue usually focuses on managing symptoms and staying hydrated, experts say. Prevention is also said to be the best tactic against dengue, both at a personal level (vaccines are available for those living in places with frequent dengue infections) and through mitigation efforts by local governments or health agencies.

In Hillsborough County, officials are setting mosquito traps and deploying aerial and ground operations to mitigate the infection risks.

“Residents can sign up to be notified of where localized aerial treatments are occurring in their neighborhood,” the county said. “Hillsborough County also maintains an online resource for residents to view where treatments are occurring.”

For other information on mosquito management, call Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services at (813) 635-5400.