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Florida has reported more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, mostly in Hillsborough County near Tampa. Available state and medical-journal records suggest it is the largest calendar-year outbreak in a continental U.S. state since at least the 1940s, though federal data are limited.
Florida has recorded more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases so far this year, most of them in Hillsborough County, home to Tampa. Available state and medical-journal data suggest the outbreak is the largest calendar-year total in a continental U.S. state since at least the 1940s, although federal officials say the historical data are limited.
The outbreak was first reported in July and is now nearing or exceeding previous recent state-level records. Hawaii recorded 264 locally acquired cases over six months in 2015 and 2016, the largest U.S. state outbreak reported since dengue transmission reappeared on the mainland outside the Texas-Mexico border. Florida’s current count is approaching that mark. The state’s previous worst year was 2023, when just under 200 locally acquired cases were reported.
As of the latest figures cited in the report, Florida had recorded 252 locally acquired cases and 245 travel-associated cases. At least 13 cases in Hillsborough County were diagnosed in travelers. Local authorities in Hillsborough and nearby counties have declared emergencies, while crews in the Tampa area are spraying for mosquitoes and checking properties for standing water where they can breed.
Florida has reported one dengue death this year: an elderly Tampa woman who died Sept. 4. Dengue is spread by mosquitoes and may cause no symptoms or produce fever, flu-like illness and severe aches. In some cases, it can lead to bleeding, shock or death. The figures describe reported cases; the source does not give a complete account of how many infections may have gone undiagnosed.
Tampa Faces a Growing Local Risk
The high number of locally acquired infections means people in affected areas do not need to travel abroad to be exposed. That makes mosquito control and personal protection relevant for residents and visitors, particularly in and around Hillsborough County. The outbreak also shows how a disease more often associated in the continental United States with travel can spread locally when virus-carrying mosquitoes are present.
Florida’s count has overtaken its own previous annual high, and the total is close to Hawaii’s reported 2015-16 outbreak. These comparisons are based on available records rather than a complete federal historical series, so they indicate the scale of the event without removing uncertainty about exact rankings.
Globally, more than 2.2 million infections and nearly 1,200 deaths have been reported this year, according to the World Health Organization. The CDC has reported nearly 1,900 locally acquired cases in the United States, most in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is not one of the 50 states, and its case burden is typically much higher than totals reported by any state.
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How Mainland Outbreaks Compare
Dengue is caused by a virus with four types. Infection with one type generally produces lasting antibodies to that type, but a later infection with a different type can carry a risk of more severe illness. That interaction has complicated vaccine development. Tulane University dengue expert Dawn Wesson said most people in the Tampa area are unlikely to have prior immunity to any dengue type.
For decades, most dengue cases identified in the continental United States were associated with international travel, while locally acquired cases were concentrated in Puerto Rico. In 2009 and 2010, Key West reported locally acquired cases, the first on the mainland outside the Texas-Mexico border since 1945. Florida usually reports the most locally transmitted cases among the states, commonly in the Miami area; the current concentration near Tampa is a notable shift in location.
Wesson said Florida’s travel links to Puerto Rico and other places where dengue circulates contribute to the state’s risk. She said travel patterns could be part of the explanation for this year’s Tampa-area surge, but the reason for the concentration remains uncertain. The source also notes that dengue-carrying mosquitoes live in Florida and other warm parts of the country, and that experts say their range has expanded amid climate change.
“Most people in the Tampa area don’t have prior immunity to any form of dengue.”
— Dawn Wesson, a Tulane University expert on dengue and mosquito-borne diseases
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Why Tampa’s Case Count Rose
The reason the outbreak is concentrated near Tampa rather than in Florida’s usual southern hotspots is not established. Wesson said travel patterns may have contributed, but the source does not identify a confirmed cause. The state figures also show locally acquired cases only slightly exceeding travel-associated cases, and at least 13 Hillsborough cases involved travelers.
Historical comparisons carry limits: federal officials say their data on dengue outbreaks are limited, and the assessment that Florida’s outbreak is the largest in a state since at least the 1940s relies on available state records and medical journals. The exact final case total, whether the outbreak will surpass Hawaii’s 264-case figure, and how many infections have not been diagnosed are not yet clear.
The CDC has provided financial assistance but has not sent disease investigators to Florida, according to its spokesman. The source says state officials have not requested their deployment; it does not describe any change in that decision since the report.
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Mosquito Control and Case Tracking
County and state officials are continuing mosquito-control work, including spraying and inspections for pooled water. Residents in affected areas can reduce exposure by removing standing water, wearing loose-fitting long sleeves and pants, and using an EPA-registered insect repellent, such as one containing DEET. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes can bite during the day; screens, air conditioning and extra care around sunrise and sunset can also reduce the chance of bites.
Health officials will continue tracking reported infections as the year progresses. The next key indicators are whether locally acquired cases continue to rise, whether the outbreak spreads beyond its current center near Tampa, and whether the Florida total passes the 264 cases reported in Hawaii in 2015-16. The report provides no date for a final tally or further state action.
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Key Questions
How many locally acquired dengue cases has Florida reported?
Florida officials had reported more than 250 cases so far this year. The report cited a count of 252, with most cases in Hillsborough County, near Tampa.
Is this the largest dengue outbreak in the continental United States?
Available state and medical-journal records suggest it is the largest calendar-year outbreak in a continental U.S. state since at least the 1940s. Federal officials say historical outbreak data are limited, and Florida’s count is nearing the 264 locally acquired cases reported in Hawaii over six months in 2015-16.
Where in Florida are most cases occurring?
The vast majority are in Hillsborough County, which includes Tampa. The source says the current outbreak is centered just north of Tampa.
How can people in affected areas reduce their risk?
Health experts advise removing standing water, wearing long sleeves and pants, and applying an EPA-registered repellent such as one containing DEET. Screens and air conditioning can help limit mosquito exposure indoors.
Why is the outbreak concentrated near Tampa?
The cause has not been confirmed. Tulane University expert Dawn Wesson said travel patterns may be part of the explanation, but the report does not establish why cases are concentrated in the Tampa area this year.
Source: rss
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