MIAMI — No one likes mosquito season. And some of these bloodsuckers can be more than just a nuisance. Mosquitoes can transmit disease.

Health officials are now focusing on dengue fever, with reports on the rise and new cases confirmed in the Florida Keys. Over 250 cases have been reported in the state so far this year, more than double this time last year.

“It’s concerning,” said Dr. Paola Lichtenberger, a tropical disease expert and professor of medicine at the University of Miami. “It will not turn on all the red alerts yet, but it definitely raised a huge red flag.”

Lichtenberger isn’t the only one raising red flags. The CDC issued an “alert for increased risk of dengue virus infections in the United States” on June 25. The Florida Department of Health declared a Mosquito Borne Illness Alert for dengue in the Florida Keys. And Miami-Dade County has been under the alert since last year .

Here’s what to know about dengue fever in South Florida:

What is dengue fever?

▪ Dengue fever is a viral, mosquito-borne, infection found in tropical and subtropical regions across the world. Each year, dengue is responsible for an estimated 100 million to 400 million infections, according to the World Health Organization.

▪ Dengue infections often come without symptoms. Only about 1 in 4 people infected with dengue will become sick, according to the CDC. But dengue can lead to a severe infection, and can even kill you.

What are the symptoms of dengue fever?

▪ The most common initial symptom of dengue is fever, sometimes with vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain behind the eyes, and a rash.

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