Authored by Zachary Stieber via The Epoch Times,
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an emergency response to the surge in Florida of cases of dengue, a disease caused by a mosquito-borne virus, the agency confirmed on Oct. 28.
"CDC is working with public health leadership to support the dengue outbreak response," Laura Adams, commander in the U.S. Public Health Service and an epidemiologist with the CDC's Dengue Branch, told The Epoch Times via email.
The activation of the level 3 emergency response was done to provide additional support to Florida and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, which are dealing with dengue outbreaks, "as well as to prepare for possible increased transmission in other areas of the United States," Adams said.
The activation means the CDC is deploying its own staff, including personnel from the CDC's Emergency Operations Center, to affected areas, and enables the coordination of activities such as epidemiologic investigations and laboratory testing.
The CDC is deploying entomologists, epidemiologists, and laboratory experts to Florida to help with trapping mosquitoes, investigating cases, and optimizing lab equipment, Adams said. The CDC has sent personnel to the Marshall Islands to help with the outbreak response, including training local workers and providing rapid tests.
Dengue is a disease caused by dengue viruses, which are spread to people through mosquito bites. Symptoms can include ache
