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1st Case Of Locally-Acquired Dengue Reported In Miami-Dade County

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Florida health officials have confirmed the first case of locally acquired Dengue fever in Miami-Dade County.

The infection is primarily spread through bites of infected mosquitoes.

The person infected with the virus has already received medical treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.

Health officials are investigating close contacts around the person to make sure more people are not infected.

Miami-Dade Mosquito Control says they are conducting aggressive mosquito control efforts in the area of concern.

Dengue fever can present itself as a flu-like illness with muscle aches, pain, fever and sometimes a rash. The symptoms appear within 14 days of being bitten by an infected mosquito and can last for up to a week.

This is the second case of locally acquired Dengue in Florida this year but this is the first case for Miami-Dade County.

Related: Dade Officials Release Locations Where Mosquitoes Tested Positive For Zika

The confirmed Dengue fever case comes as Florida health officials are combatting the spread of the Zika virus - spread through mosquitoes and sexual contact.

The virus - linked to severe birth defects in newborns - has spread through parts of Miami-Dade County including Miami Beach and the neighborhood of Wynwood. While Wynwood has been declared Zika-free meaning there are no local transmissions happened, parts of Miami Beach are still considered a Zika transmission zone.

Zika 101: Prevent Spread By Protecting Yourself

There is also speculation there may be another transmission zone. Four new cases reported Tuesday are still being investigated since officials have not been able to find a point of exposure.

Mosquito control has conducted spraying by ground and air meant to fight the spread of the virus.

As of Wednesday, there were 109 non-travel related cases in Florida and 693 travel-related cases. Of those cases, 91 pregnant women have been infected.

Click here for more information on the Zika virus or here for more Zika-related stories.

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