Last Friday, the Cameron County Department of Health and Human Services issued a dengue advisory, which stated that there were 14 cases of the mosquito borne viral disease in the county.

In an interview with Dr. Brian Smith with the Texas Department of State Health Services earlier today (Listen below), Dr. Smith said the case count in Cameron County is now up to 25 cases, with six people requiring hospitalization. The cases were confirmed positive either for the IgM antibody or by polyermase chain reaction (PCR).

In addition, Smith said that at least six of the cases were considered locally-acquired. He said that the last locally-acquired dengue case in the county was in 2005.

Smith also noted that neighboring Hidalgo County had five dengue fever cases; however, all had a travel history.

When asked if this situation has officially been called an outbreak, Dr. Smith said, “We’re calling it a small outbreak”.

Cameron County is the southernmost county in Texas. It borders Willacy County, Hidalgo County and Matamoros Municipality, Tamaulipas, Mexico to the south.

For more infectious disease news and information, visit and “like” the Infectious Disease News Facebook page

Looking for a job in health care? Check here to see what’s available