Health Department: Dengue test results negative

DORAL, Fla. (WSVN) -- According to the Miami-Dade County Health Department, results of the first confirmatory test conducted on a suspected case of locally acquired dengue infection in Miami-Dade County came back negative Friday.

"It definitely concerns me, because I have mosquito bites all over my body," said Maya Mocnik.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease, and while it is not spread from person-to-person, the Health Department says there is no vaccine or antidote, only treatment.

A Miami Beach man was recently admitted to the hospital with what is believed to be the first case of dengue fever in the area. Though the disease is very rare in the United States, it is quite common in the tropics, and a total of 39 cases have been confirmed in Monroe County, specifically Key West. "This particular mosquito takes advantage of any type of container-- gutters, buckets, cat dishes, dog dishes-- anything that can hold water," said Sandra Fisher of Mosquito Control.

Mosquito Control was out in the area of 17th Street and Michigan Avenue all day Thursday, where the Miami Beach patient lives, setting up mosquito traps. They have also been warning residents to make sure they have no standing water in their yards.

The Miami-Dade County Health Department held a news conference Thursday afternoon to address concerns. "It's important not to panic," said Lillian Rivera of the Miami-Dade Health Department. "OK? That's number one. There's no panic in this situation, no high level of alert in this situation. We're just doing this on the preventive side."

According to experts, the type of mosquito that carries the disease is active during the day and exists in close proximity with humans. Health officials emphasize that death from dengue is very rare, but they want Miami-Dade residents to be proactive.

The symptoms of dengue fever include the following:

- fever
-severe headache.
-pain behind the eyes.
-muscle and joint pain.
-rash.

If you experience these symptoms, you should contact your doctor. "The only way to get dengue is being bitten by an infected mosquito," said Dr. Vincent Conte of the Miami-Dade Health Department.

To keep from getting bitten by mosquitoes, health officials emphasize the "Five D's" for prevention:

-Avoid being out at dusk and dawn.
-Dress accordingly, wearing clothing that covers most of your skin.
-Use bug repellents containing Deet.
-Finally, drain any areas of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

As for the Miami Beach man, he has recovered and has been released from the hospital. A state lab has received a blood sample from the man. Results from the test could come back as early as Friday.

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