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A Traveling Tropical Fever

A DISEASE THAT'S RARELY CROSSED THE MINDS OF AMERICANS IS NOW CROSSING ITS BORDERS. DENGUE FEVER IS AN EMERGING POTENTIAL THREAT, AS YOU’LL HEAR ON THIS ENVIRONMINUTE.

DENGUE FEVER IS A MOSQUITO-BORNE VIRAL DISEASE. IN MILD FORM, IT RESEMBLES THE FLU. IN SEVERE FORM, IT CAN LEAD TO HEMORRHAGING.

ACCORDING TO ANTHONY FAUCI OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THIS TROPICAL DISEASE IS MOVING NORTH: CASES ARE RISING IN THE CARIBBEAN - EVEN ALONG THE U.S-MEXICO BORDER. 

FAUCI: WHEN YOU HAVE MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES LIKE DENGUE, HOW GO THE MOSQUITO, SO GOES THE DISEASE.

WHILE THERE ARE CURRENTLY ONLY A FEW CASES IN THE U.S., THE MOSQUITO THAT CARRIES DENGUE IS FOUND IN THIRTY-SIX STATES.  AND BECAUSE IT THRIVES IN WARM CLIMATES, GLOBAL WARMING COULD ALLOW IT TO FLOURISH IN EVEN MORE AREAS. 

SO FAUCI CAUTIONS US TO PRACTICE GOOD MOSQUITO CONTROL AT HOME AND ESPECIALLY WHEN WE TRAVEL.

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Learn more from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

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