Mosquito That Can Carry Dengue Disease Found in Southern Arizona

Published: Thursday, October 30, 2014 - 3:50pm

Health officials in Yuma, Ariz., say they have found mosquito eggs that belong to the Aedes Aegypti, an insect that can carry Dengue.

The Dengue virus is transmitted to humans by a bite from an infected mosquito. The eggs were found during routine mosquito surveillance in San Luis, Arizona, some 22 miles south of Yuma. 

"We traditionally don’t see that particular mosquito in our area," said Diana Gomez, Director of Public Health with Yuma County Department of Public Health. "However, there was concern because there was recently two cases of confirmed Dengue disease in our neighbors across the border in San Luis Sonora."

Gomez says there have been no confirmed cases of the Dengue virus in Arizona. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Dengue is typically found in the tropics and subtropics. Symptoms include a high fever, joint and muscle pain, mild bleeding and a rash. Severe cases of Dengue can lead to death.