Dengue Fever Infection Reported in Miami Area

Health officials announced on Wednesday that they have detected a case of locally acquired dengue fever in Miami-Dade county, according to the Florida Health Department.

Dengue fever is a viral disease that is mainly spread by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also spreads the Zika virus. The virus can cause flu-like symptoms and in rare cases can result in dangerous or deadly infections.

This is the second dengue fever case reported in the state this year, according to the Florida Health Department. One other dengue fever case was reported in Key West in June. That island battled an outbreak of dengue fever from 2009 to 2010.

Since July, the Florida Health Department has been fighting an outbreak of locally transmitted Zika virus that has infected approximately 115, according to the state health department.

For months, health officials have been trying to diminish the population of the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to reduce the chance they will spread the Zika virus in Florida. Miami-Dade Mosquito Control is now conducting "aggressive" mosquito control practices to diminish the possible spread of the dengue fever virus, according to the Florida Health Department.

Dengue fever can result in symptoms including fever, rash, and aches and pains. In severe cases, an initial infection can turn into dengue hemorrhagic fever, in which the blood vessels become permeable. This can lead to shock or possibly death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.