Wisconsin Department of Health Services: 12 confirmed cases of Dengue virus so far this year

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (WEAU) - The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reports twelve confirmed cases of mosquito-transmitted Dengue virus.

That is the same amount recorded for 2023, with the second half of 2024 to go.

The Eau Claire City-County Health Department said none of the cases this year are in the county or in counties nearby.

“Any time I’m out with my friends in public, I swear I’ve been getting a lot more mosquito bites,” said James Turner.

He and her mother, Fawn, said they have noticed a rise in mosquitoes this summer.

That is because of the season’s wet conditions, compared to drier summers in recent years.

“They don’t like me, but they seem to love the kids and my husband,” said Fawn.

Professor Susan Paskewitz with UW-Madison’s Entomology Department said you will have to travel to find the virus.

“They are species that we do see sometimes in the Southern United States. Especially places like Florida, Texas where it’s really warm, hot, humid,” said Paskewitz. “If you’re going to Mexico, or parts of South America, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil they’re all having major out breaks.”

“It’s not typically a virus that’s spread throughout the U.S. It’s more when people travel they bring it back with them,” said Kristy Polden, a public health nurse with the City-County Health Department.

She said there was a dip in 2021 with three cases recorded state-wide that year.

Polden said the numbers could go up again as more Wisconsinites travel post-pandemic.

There is no treatment or vaccines for Dengue virus.

“Typically, the fevers are flu like and they happen 3 to 10 days after being bitten by the mosquito. So, pay attention to those flu-like symptoms,” said Polden.

“Most of the viruses, when they make it to the salivary glands of the mosquito, which takes a little bit of time for that to happen after they become infected initially, they’re ready to transmit. It takes one bite,” said Paskewitz.

Experts recommend to cover in areas with known Dengue virus transmission.

Polden said most people with Dengue should be fine, but it does affect pregnant moms, babies under a year-old, the elderly and the immuno-compromised more.

She advises everyone to let the doctor know where you have been if you are confirmed positive for Dengue virus.