Friday, March 29, 2024
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Buggin’ Out

Buzzing in your ear and sucking your blood, mosquitoes are not only annoying, but they are considered the deadliest creatures on the planet. Recent concerns over Zika have Floridians on edge when it comes to mosquito- borne diseases.

“Mosquitoes are an irritation we have to put up with living in a tropical environment,” says Dustyn Shroff, Vice President GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s largest independent health insurance agency. “It is easy to forget about the different illnesses mosquitoes can carry.”

Florida Cases

The Florida Department of Health monitors outbreaks across the state of mosquito-borne diseases such as West Nile, Zika, Eastern encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, dengue and chikungunya virus along with malaria. Currently, Monroe County is under a mosquito-borne illness advisory. Nineteen Florida counties are under a declared public health emergency due to travel related Zika infections.

In 2009- 2010, Key West had close to 90 cases of dengue fever reported. An outbreak of 28 cases of dengue, were reported August and September of 2013 in Rio and Jensen Beach.

As of June 1, 2016, 128 Zika cases were reported in Florida but none of them were acquired locally, although 11 cases in the United States were transmitted sexually according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.zika-by-state-report-06-02-2016

Symptoms

“The symptoms can often mimic other illnesses so it can be difficult to discern if your mosquito bite is the cause. If you have traveled to an area where mosquito illness is found, make an appointment to see your healthcare provider immediately,” reminds Buck with GreatFlorida Insurance, Florida’s leading independent healthcare insurance provider.

The CDC explains,” Zika, dengue and chikungunya spread the disease through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito. There are no vaccines or medicines for these diseases.”

Zika– Fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis are common symptoms, death is rare. Zika can cause birth defects in babies born to mothers have been infected.

Dengue-Most people infected with dengue exhibit no or mild symptoms which include, fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain or rash. Dengue symptoms can quickly become severe and even fatal.

Chikungunya-Rarely fatal, symptoms can include the sudden onset of fever and joint pain, headache, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash. Joint pain can severe and debilitating.

Prevention

  • Use insect repellent! Consumer Reports recently tested and rated their top picks which include-Sawyer Picaridin, Ben’s 30% Deet Tick & Insect Wilderness Formula and Repel Lemon Eucalyptus.
  • Do a check and eliminate breeding grounds for insects such as standing water in bird baths, buckets, planters, kiddie pools and boats.
  • Cover up- wear long sleeved shirts and long pants.
  • If you are vacationing to a location where mosquito-borne illnesses are common, use a mosquito net around your bed and look for accommodations with air conditioning.

GreatFlorida Insurance offers a variety of health insurance plans to fit your needs and your budget. Contact us today.

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Dustyn Shroff
Dustyn Shroffhttp://www.greatflorida.com
Vice President at GreatFlorida Insurance

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