Two locally acquired cases of West Nile virus and one locally acquired case of dengue was reported Thursday in Cameron County.

The Cameron County Public Health Department announced the new cases in a news release, adding that they’re the first locally acquired mosquito-borne disease cases in the county this year.

The public health department told Channel 5 News there are now a total of nine cases of mosquito-borne diseases in the county.

These include five total cases of dengue — two of which are travel related and two others that are believed to also be travel-related.

There are four total cases of West Nile in the county, two of which are believed to be travel related. 

West Nile and dengue are transmitted through bites from mosquitos carrying the virus and can spread quickly from person to person, according to a news release

The health department is reminding residents to follow some steps to protect themselves from mosquito bites.

Protections include

- Applying insect repellent on exposed skin and clothing
- Dressing protectively when outside by wearing long sleeve shirts, pants, socks and shoes
- Staying indoors at dusk and dawn when mosquitos are most active
- Drain any standing water as they can be mosquito-breeding sites

Symptoms of West Nile and dengue are similar. They include high fever, headache, joint pain, muscle and bone pain, nausea, vomiting and rash.

Dengue symptoms also include pain behind the eyes, and additional symptoms for West Nile include swollen lymph nodes and a sore throat.

The health department said most people can completely recover from both diseases within a two-week timeframe, but complications can develop that will require medical attention and can be fatal if left untreated.

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