Florida health and mosquito-control agencies have escalated surveillance and mitigation efforts after confirming 41 locally acquired dengue fever cases statewide as of September 1, with 33 cases in Tampa Bay alone. Hillsborough and Pinellas counties are under mosquito-borne illness alerts issued by the Florida Department of Health.
Officials anticipate a further increase in cases in the coming weeks, prompting enhanced inspections, targeted spraying, and expanded monitoring across affected regions.
Confirmed cases by county include 30 in Hillsborough, 7 in Miami-Dade, 3 in Pinellas, and 1 in Palm Beach, according to the Florida Mosquito Control Association. All cases were acquired locally, meaning individuals contracted the virus within Florida rather than during international travel.
Dengue is a viral illness transmitted by infected mosquitoes, typically causing symptoms such as fever, severe body aches, nausea, and rash. While most cases are mild, severe complications can occur in rare instances, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The virus is most commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions, including Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Locally acquired cases in the continental U.S. remain uncommon but have been documented in recent years, including in Florida, California, and Texas. Outbreaks have also occurred in U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The CDC reported in May 2024 that the U.S. experienced a record year for dengue, with 3,798 total cases reported across states and Washington, D.C.—a 359% increase over the annual average from 2010 to 2023. Of these, approximately 97% were travel-associated, while roughly 3% were locally acquired. Florida reported the highest number of cases among U.S. states and Washington, D.C.
Health authorities emphasize that prevention measures—such as eliminating standing water, using insect repellent, and wearing protective clothing—remain critical to reducing transmission risk.