Texas Confirms Its First Locally Acquired Dengue Fever Case of 2024
Texas health officials have confirmed the state’s first locally acquired dengue infection this year. “Locally acquired” means that the person was infected by a mosquito carrying the dengue-causing virus. This year Texas has recorded 106 travel-related dengue cases, including one patient who died, making 2024 the worst year for travel-associated infections in Texas since 2002. As dengue surges globally, health authorities urge physicians to look out for the disease in their patients.
California and Florida have also confirmed locally acquired dengue infections this year. California has confirmed 15 cases and Florida has confirmed 66 cases. Dengue Fever has spread across the Americas at a record-breaking pace. Worldwide in 2024, the number of dengue cases is the most ever recorded at this point in the year.
More Details Emerge in Case of Canadian Teen Infected with Bird Flu
A Canadian teenager infected with Avian Flu (bird flu) in early November remains in critical care after being hospitalized on November 8. Despite a lengthy investigation, health officials have yet to determine how or where the patient was infected. However, the team has made important findings about how the virus mutated to a cause such severe disease in the young patient.
Fortunately, the investigation has found no evidence that the virus spread from the teenager to any direct or indirect contacts. However, laboratory analysis of the viral specimen from the patient revealed that the virus has mutations that allow it to more easily infect and cause disease in humans. For example, it is more capable of binding to cell-receptors and cells deep within the lungs.
