Climate change is exacerbating the risk of potentially dangerous mosquito-borne diseases in California — threatening to turn more of those annoying-but-harmless bites into severe illnesses, experts say.
California already grapples with West Nile virus, a potentially deadly disease that was first detected in the state about two decades ago. But officials are now warning of a potential new foe: dengue, a viral infection that in the most serious cases can also lead to life-threatening complications.
Until last year, all dengue cases reported in California were associated with people traveling to a country where the disease is common. But Los Angeles County public health officials are now warning about the “unprecedented” local transmission of dengue, which is commonly found in tropical and subtropical climates.
Just this month, the county Department of Public Health has reported four cases of locally acquired dengue — meaning people were infected in their communities, not while traveling. Three were documented in the San Gabriel Valley city of Baldwin Park; the latest was reported Wednesday in Panorama City, about 30 miles to the northwest.
“While the widespread transmission of dengue remains low, we do urge residents … to take simple steps to reduce exposure to mosquitoes. These include using insect repellent to prevent mosquito bites,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said at a recent news conference.