AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Friday, Austin Public Health (APH) said it issued an alert to the Travis County Medical Society (TCMS) after five cases of Dengue were reported in Travis County, a spokesperson with the agency told KXAN.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne illness, according to APH.
APH said all five cases were “travel related.” Furthermore, those “patients traveled to tropical and subtropical areas of the world where Dengue is present.”
APH told TCMS “to consider Dengue in differential diagnosis” in patients who recently traveled to “endemic areas.”
“Anyone traveling out of the country should speak with their doctor about any precautions to take before and during their trip,” the APH spokesperson said.
For Dengue, APH said to use insect repellent, wear loose-fitting, long-sleeve T-shirts and pants and drain stand water when possible.