This year’s first case of the deadly virus has been confirmed in Miami-Dade County.

There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the fever, which can turn deadly.

The most common symptoms of the mosquito-borne virus are fever and one or more of the following symptoms: headache; eye pain (typically behind the eyes); muscle, joint, or bone pain; rash; nausea and vomiting; or unusual bleeding (nose or gum bleed, small red spots under the skin, or unusual bruising).

SPREAD: There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat the fever

Miami-Dade has reported 21 cases of dengue fever during the past decade, with Broward County reporting four cases during that same span.

“It is a big public health concern that we have dengue,” said vector-borne specialist John Beier.

“People need to be informed and take precautions.”

Dengue is spread by infected mosquitoes, usually the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus varieties.

These mosquitoes bite during the day, most often early in the morning or in the early evening before dusk.

They're often found living around sources of stagnant water in built-up areas, such as wells, water storage tanks or old car tyres.

Dengue isn't spread from person to person.

The Aedes aegypti mosquito can also spread the Zika virus.

SPREAD: The virus is spread by mosquitos
VIRUS: The fever has been discovered in Miami-Dade County

In rare cases dengue can be very serious and potentially life-threatening. This is known as severe dengue or dengue haemorrhagic fever.

People who've had dengue before are thought to be most at risk of severe dengue if they become infected again. It's very rare for travellers to get it.

Signs of severe dengue can include: