10/06/2026
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Dengue is spreading in Florida in the largest outbreak in the continental U.S. in decades.
The state had reported 252 locally acquired infections in 2026 as of September, compared with 245 associated with travel. Most local cases were concentrated in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa.
Locally acquired means people contracted the virus in Florida rather than while traveling elsewhere.
Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas counties have declared local emergencies and increased mosquito-control efforts, including eliminating standing water where mosquitoes breed.
The outbreak appears to be the largest in the continental U.S. in decades, although officials caution that historical surveillance data is limited. That comparison excludes Puerto Rico, where dengue regularly causes much larger outbreaks.
Dengue is a viral infection spread primarily through bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes. Two species capable of transmitting it, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, are present in Florida.
Mosquitoes can pick up the virus from an infected person and later transmit it to someone else, allowing local transmission to continue.
Some infections cause no symptoms. Others bring fever, severe headaches, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, nausea, or vomiting.
Most people recover, but severe dengue can cause dangerous bleeding and shock. Florida has reported one dengue-related death this year.
Why this year’s surge is centered around Tampa rather than South Florida remains unclear. Travel patterns and conditions favorable to mosquitoes may play a role.
Residents can reduce their risk by using EPA-registered insect repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and emptying containers that collect standing water.
These mosquitoes can bite during the day as well as at night. Anyone with fever and possible dengue symptoms should contact a healthcare provider.
Learn more:
"This state’s dengue outbreak is now the largest in the US in decades." Independent
