Rising cases of the mosquito-borne disease have prompted local states of emergency in Tampa Bay
NEED TO KNOW
- Clearwater, Fla., released 10,000 mosquitofish to control mosquito populations amid rising cases of dengue fever
- The prevalence of the disease, transmitted by mosquito bites, has prompted local states of emergency in several Tampa Bay counties
- Mosquitofish naturally eat mosquito larvae and are a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution in the U.S. to combat the disease threat
A city in Florida is working to combat the rising cases of dengue fever.
On Friday, Sept. 25, the city of Clearwater, Florida, released about 10,000 eastern mosquitofish — known for their appetite for mosquito larvae — into four bodies of water in hopes of curbing the mosquito population, per WFLA. The move is part of the city’s effort to reduce the possibility of residents contracting dengue fever.
According to Mayo Clinic, dengue fever is a disease that is transmitted through mosquito bites in “tropical and subtropical” regions of the world. While it has been historically most common in Southeast Asia, the western Pacific Islands, Africa and Latin America, dengue fever has also since appeared in the United States and Europe.
The illness can present flu-like symptoms, including a high fever, while a more serious version of the disease can result in bleeding, a sudden blood pressure drop or, possibly, death. Efforts to curb disease contraction center on avoiding mosquito bites and reducing mosquito populations…