Florida reports first dengue death of 2026 as locally acquired cases surge
Key Points(5)
- Florida has reported its first dengue fever death of 2026 as the state experiences a sharp rise in locally acquired cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
- The death occurred in Hillsborough County, which has emerged as the center of this year’s dengue outbreak, the Florida Department of Health confirmed Friday.
- The patient was an 80-year-old Tampa-area woman.
- Florida had recorded 338 dengue cases as of September 12, including 152 infections acquired within the state and the remainder associated with international travel.
- The number of locally acquired infections represents a 145 percent increase from the 62 reported during all of 2025.
Florida has reported its first dengue fever death of 2026 as the state experiences a sharp rise in locally acquired cases of the mosquito-borne disease.
The death occurred in Hillsborough County, which has emerged as the center of this year’s dengue outbreak, the Florida Department of Health confirmed Friday. The patient was an 80-year-old Tampa-area woman.
Florida had recorded 338 dengue cases as of September 12, including 152 infections acquired within the state and the remainder associated with international travel.
The number of locally acquired infections represents a 145 percent increase from the 62 reported during all of 2025. State surveillance data show that 2025 cases were concentrated primarily in Brevard and Miami-Dade counties.
Hillsborough County accounts for the overwhelming majority of this year’s local infections, with 134 cases reported through mid-September. State health officials had already described the increase in the county as unusual earlier this month, when the local total stood at 59.
Other locally acquired cases have been reported in Miami-Dade, Pinellas, Pasco, Orange and Palm Beach counties.
Orange County health officials announced two additional locally acquired cases on September 18 and increased mosquito-control measures in affected communities.
The growing number of infections has prompted mosquito-borne illness alerts or advisories across several Florida counties.
“We are reminding all residents and visitors throughout the state to take precautions from mosquito-borne illnesses by appropriately applying insect repellent, avoiding areas with high mosquito populations, draining any standing water, and wearing long pants and shirts when possible – especially during sunrise and sunset, when mosquitoes are most active,” Florida Department of Health spokesperson Claire Maher said.
Dengue is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes and is not spread directly from person to person. Symptoms can include fever, severe muscle and joint pain and rash and generally appear within about two weeks of an infected mosquito bite.
While many infections are mild or asymptomatic, some patients develop severe dengue, which can cause internal bleeding, organ damage and, in rare cases, death.
Health officials are urging residents to reduce their risk by using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved clothing and pants, repairing damaged window and door screens and eliminating standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed.
The Florida Department of Health continues to conduct statewide surveillance for dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, including West Nile virus, chikungunya, malaria, Eastern equine encephalitis and St. Louis encephalitis.
