On Friday, local health authorities officially confirmed the first instance of locally-acquired dengue virus in a resident of Pasadena. Manuel Carmona, who currently serves as the acting director of Public Health for the City of Pasadena, emphasized that this particular case is the initial one within California not linked to travel.

Aside from this, no further information has yet to be given to the general public. Interestingly, this news comes days after part of Orange County confirmed that the West Nile virus was present in the area. Clearly, it is mosquito season on the West Coast.

Dengue virus, often colloquially known as dengue fever or break-bone fever due to the notable pain associated with it, is transmitted to humans through the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus.

The World Health Organization notes that many individuals may not exhibit any symptoms, and some may experience a relatively mild form of the illness that generally resolves within 1 to 2 weeks. However, for certain individuals, the infection can progress to severe dengue, constituting a medical emergency that may necessitate hospitalization.

Approximately one out of every four individuals who contract dengue will experience symptoms, as per the CDC, and these symptoms can vary from mild to severe. Among those who fall ill, approximately one in twenty may progress to severe dengue, a condition that can lead to complications such as shock, internal bleeding, and, in some unfortunate cases, fatalities.