PINE HILLS, Fla. — Orange County Mosquito Control crews are increasing spraying and surveillance in Pine Hills after a locally acquired case of dengue was confirmed in the community.
The Florida Department of Health in Orange County confirmed the human case on Sept. 2. The department and Orange County Mosquito Control are coordinating surveillance and prevention efforts while expanding targeted treatments in the affected area.
“We were notified on Wednesday of this week that we had a confirmed locally acquired case of dengue in the Pine Hills community,” said Steve Harrison, manager of Orange County Mosquito Control. “In response to that, our mosquito control crews have increased treatments and surveillance in that area in order to minimize the risk of any future spread of this virus.”
Harrison said dengue is spread from person to person through the bite of an infected mosquito, not through social interaction.
The Aedes aegypti mosquito is the primary species that spreads dengue. Harrison said it often breeds in containers and standing water around people’s homes.
Unlike mosquitoes that are most active around dusk and dawn, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is primarily active during the day. It can also bite throughout the day.
The mosquito has a short flight range and typically stays within a few blocks of where it emerged. The county is therefore concentrating its increased control efforts in Pine Hills, where the locally acquired case was reported.
Orange County regularly conducts mosquito control efforts countywide. Crews use surveillance traps, calls from residents, field inspections and reported virus activity to determine where spraying is needed.
After the Pine Hills case was reported, crews collected adult mosquitoes near the site and tested them using the county’s new in-house virus detection system. Harrison said none of the collected mosquitoes tested positive for dengue.
Harrison said this is the third person to contract dengue locally in Orange County since 2024. The two cases reported in 2024 involved people from the same household.
Residents can help reduce the risk by emptying water from potted plants, pet bowls, bird baths, and other containers around their properties. Harrison also recommends protecting against mosquito bites during both daytime and nighttime hours.
Orange County said the chemicals it uses for mosquito control are approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are safe for use around people and animals.
Residents who notice increased mosquito activity can report it by calling 3-1-1.