SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – CDC data shows reported dengue cases have increased in several Florida counties.
Hillsborough County rose from 20 reported cases to 36, according to the latest provisional county-level data. Miami-Dade County increased from 49 cases to 67.
Broward County increased from 11 to 12 cases.
Lee County moved from the CDC’s previous “1 to 4” reporting category to five cases. Because the earlier total was reported as a range, the exact size of the increase cannot be determined from the data provided.
Pinellas County remained in the CDC’s “1 to 4” category. That does not necessarily mean the number of cases is unchanged, since the CDC does not provide an exact total for counties in that range.
Dengue Fever reported in Tampa, Hillsborough County
Palm Beach County remained at seven reported cases.
Sarasota and Manatee counties were not listed in the latest county-level CDC table or in the data reviewed for WWSB’s Aug. 26 report.
The CDC said its surveillance data is reported by a patient’s county of residence, not necessarily where the person was exposed to the virus.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease related to the viruses that cause West Nile and yellow fever, according to the Florida Department of Health. The department says it can be painful and debilitating, though it is rarely fatal.
Florida health officials say cases are reported each year among people who traveled to places where dengue is present. Those imported cases commonly involve travel to the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Asia.
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Florida’s proximity to areas with dengue, including Puerto Rico, and frequent international travel by residents make it possible for dengue to be reintroduced, the Florida Department of Health said.
Sarasota County Mosquito Management also warns that someone who is infected while traveling can return home and be bitten by a local mosquito, which could then pass the disease to another person.
Sarasota County Mosquito Management said it regularly monitors mosquito populations for potential disease. The county uses specialized traps to collect mosquitoes, then tests collected mosquitoes for viruses in an on-site molecular laboratory.
The county said mosquito season typically peaks from May through October, when warmer temperatures and rain create conditions favorable for mosquitoes.
If mosquitoes test positive for a virus, the county said it can increase trapping, investigate possible breeding sites and take other response steps. If a human case is reported, Sarasota County said those efforts continue while the Florida Department of Health gathers information about recent travel that could help determine where the infection was acquired.
Sarasota County distinguishes between a mosquito-borne illness advisory and an alert.
An advisory means the public should take precautions to reduce mosquito bites because of factors that can indicate local disease activity, such as positive sentinel animals or a small number of presumptive or positive human cases, the county said.
An alert indicates heightened disease activity, a significant increase in mosquitoes capable of carrying disease or an increase in locally transmitted human cases, according to the county.
CDC data shows a total of 1,575 reported human dengue cases so far in 2026.
CDC said its data is provisional and subject to change. Delays in reporting mean state, territorial and local health departments may have more current totals.
The data is provisional and subject to change. The CDC also warns that recently reported case numbers may be incomplete because of delays in reporting and data processing.
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