Rochester General Health System
RGHS Physician Identifies Disease Not Commonly Seen in the U.S.
May 21, 2010
Adriane Trout MD, a Family Medicine Physician with the Rochester General Medical Group in Macedon, New York has reported the first case of Dengue Fever in the continental United States outside of the Texas-Mexico border since 1945. Dengue Fever is the most common vector-borne viral disease in the world causing an estimated 50-100 million infections and 25,000 deaths each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
In its weekly report, Morbidity and Mortality, published today, the CDC credited Dr. Trout with reporting the first case on September 1, 2009 to the Monroe County (Florida) Health Department and the Florida Department of Health. The patient, a 34 year old woman from Rochester, New York, was treated by Dr. Trout after returning from a trip to Key West, Florida where she reported receiving multiple mosquito bites. The patient suffered symptoms including fever, headache, and chills. The CDC subsequently confirmed the disease though a series of blood tests.
While the Rochester patient has since made a full recovery from the disease, the CDC is advising health-care providers and the general public of the possible risks for acquiring dengue fever, especially for those traveling to sub-tropical areas of the United States. In its weekly publication, the CDC reports that between July 22, 2009 and April 5, 2010, 27 Key West residents have contracted the disease in addition to the patient from Rochester, New York.
Officials in Florida have moved forward with an aggressive program of mosquito control to stop the spread of dengue fever. Without Dr. Trout's efforts to identify the cause of her patient's illness, such preventative action might not have occurred. "Had the index patient not been evaluated promptly and reported, the cases in Key West residents likely would not have been diagnosed," according to the CDC report.
