Florida Keys having first outbreak of Dengue fever in 10 years

The Florida Department of Health confirmed on Friday two more cases of Dengue fever in the state, bringing the total number of cases to 16. According to the health department, all of the cases have been located in about a two-mile area of Key Largo in the Upper Keys. The last time the Keys experienced an outbreak of Dengue fever was 10 years ago, when 55 people contracted the mosquito-borne illness. The health department said that no one in the Keys has died from Dengue in this latest outbreak, and all of the patients are expected to make a complete recovery. The potentially deadly disease causes severe influenza-like symptoms, including aches and pains, fever, and sometimes a rash. In response to the outbreak, the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District has increased its efforts to kill the Aedes aegypti mosquito population in the region.