Florida residents are picking up the pieces after getting battered by two hurricanes.
But they are not out of the woods yet.
One scary problem was left behind in Florida after Hurricane Milton.
The hidden danger after two hurricanes
Two hurricanes made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast in two weeks this fall.
Recovery from Hurricanes Helene and Milton is underway.
Florida residents are dealing with the usual challenges in the aftermath of a storm like clearing debris and home repairs.
Now, there is a hidden danger that they must be on guard for.
Cases of Dengue Fever are in the Tampa Bay area after Hurricane Milton left standing water everywhere in the region.
That standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitos who carry Dengue Fever.
Officials with the Hillsborough County Department of Health have confirmed at least four persons in the area have contracted the mosquito-borne disease since Hurricane Milton made landfall in Siesta Key, Florida, south of Tampa.
The Hillsborough County Public Works is still working on removing water from flooding created by the storm.
Aerial spraying is being used by the county to try to control the mosquito population.
Pasco County Mosquito Control executive director Adriane Rogers said this was the worst year for mosquito-borne diseases of her career.
“This is one of the most active arbovirus years for the state of Florida that I’ve seen in my 17-plus years in the state mosquito control industry,” Roger said.
As little as a tablespoon of water left out can be enough for mosquitos to breed.
“That really likes to breed around people’s homes,” Rogers said. “So, things that are around your property like plant trivets, water barrels, wheelbarrows, dog water dishes, things like that, anything that can hold water has the capacity to breed that specific mosquito.”
University of South Florida infectious disease professor Dr. John Sinnott told FOX 13 Tampa Bay that the mosquitos that carry Dengue Fever stay close to the standing water where they spawn.
“The mosquitoes that spread dengue only have a range of about 200 yards, so they’re going to stay around the person that’s sick,” Sinnott explained. “These mosquitoes don’t go flying off for 2 or 3 miles or localized within a couple of football fields. They usually stay in one place.”
Hurricanes leave behind disease in their wake
The first symptom of Dengue Fever is typically a headache.
“Then your joints start hurting, starting with the weight-bearing joints, the knees,” Sinnott said. “I’ve seen patients with this, and their pain is remarkable.”
Dengue fever is an incurable virus that can sometimes be fatal.
The disease can cause fevers, headaches, chills, nausea, vomiting, and rashes.
In its most severe form, it can cause a sudden drop in blood pressure and serious bleeding.
It is a tropical disease so it is rarely found in the United States.
There is no known treatment for it yet, so prevention is the key.
The Florida Department of Health has identified 50 cases in the state this year.
Hurricanes in Florida also led to a spike in Vibrio bacteria from the storm surge bringing seawater inland.
Florida residents must also watch out for diseases as they put their lives back together after the hurricanes.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
