Tampa, FL – A rise in locally transmitted dengue infections has prompted emergency declarations and expanded mosquito-control efforts in the Tampa area.
Florida health officials reported more than 250 locally acquired cases this year, with most concentrated in Hillsborough County. Associated Press reporting indicates the outbreak appears to be the largest in the continental United States in several decades.
Federal historical records are incomplete. However, available state health reports and medical literature suggest the total is the highest recorded within a calendar year for a continental U.S. state since at least the 1940s.
Florida’s previous peak was in 2023, when officials reported just under 200 locally transmitted cases. The current outbreak, identified in July, is approaching Hawaii’s total of 264 local infections recorded over six months in 2015 and 2016.
An elderly Tampa woman died September 4, marking Florida’s reported dengue death this year. Officials in Hillsborough and surrounding counties have declared local emergencies, and crews are spraying during daytime and nighttime operations to reduce mosquito populations.
Dengue is a viral infection spread primarily through bites from infected mosquitoes. Most infected people have no symptoms, according to the World Health Organization. Those who become ill may experience fever, headaches, muscle and joint pain, nausea or a rash.
Severe dengue can be fatal. Warning signs include persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, rapid breathing and bleeding, sometimes after a fever subsides. The organization advises immediate medical attention for these symptoms.
Preventing mosquito bites and controlling mosquito populations remain key prevention measures. A second dengue infection increases the risk of severe illness.