Third case of dengue confirmed in Miami as new reports indicate an increase in the number of cases

A third case of locally transmitted dengue fever has been confirmed in Miami-Dade County, health officials said.

The first case of life-threatening mosquito-borne disease was confirmed in March and the second earlier this month – but all three seem unrelated to date, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Local officials issued a high-risk health alert on Friday to warn residents to protect themselves by draining groundwater where insects breed, wearing long sleeves on the outside and spraying an insect repellent.

The third case follows a new report according to which the number of fatal cases of dengue fever is increasing in several countries – including the United States – due to climate change and urbanization.

Previously, five cases of dengue fever had been confirmed this year among international travelers in Florida, reported the Miami Herald.

Dengue fever is caused by the dengue virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes infected Aedes aegypti.

Most people have few or no symptoms, but those who develop can suffer from muscle or joint pain, headache, high fever, nausea and vomiting.

According to the World Health Organization, if the infection becomes a "serious dengue fever", it can be life threatening.

There is no treatment or vaccine against the dengue virus and most symptoms disappear after a week.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the dengue virus was eliminated from the United States several decades ago.

However, a number of cases are reported each year, mainly by those traveling in where dengue is endemic.

A report released earlier this month by the Pan American Health Organization indicates that the number of dengue cases is increasing in the Americas.

Between North America, Central America and South America, more than two million cases have been reported this year, resulting in 723 deaths.

Experts say the exact cause of the rise is not clear, but attribute it to a mix of climate change and urbanization.

A study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine indicates that warmer and wetter temperatures, coupled with population shifts to tropical areas, as the world's population increases will expose more people to dengue.