Miami-Dade, Palm Beach issue dengue alerts after locally acquired cases

South Florida health officials are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after confirming locally acquired cases of dengue in both Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) issued separate mosquito-borne illness alerts on Aug. 3 after confirming one locally acquired dengue case in Miami-Dade County and one locally acquired human case of dengue fever in Palm Beach County.

Health officials said the cases were contracted locally, meaning the infected individuals were bitten by mosquitoes carrying the virus within Florida rather than becoming infected while traveling abroad.

In response, the Florida Department of Health is working with mosquito control teams in both counties to increase surveillance and implement prevention and control measures aimed at reducing the risk of further transmission.

Dengue is spread through the bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito and is not spread from person to person. Symptoms typically develop within 14 days of a mosquito bite and can include high fever, severe muscle and joint pain, headaches, nausea and, in some cases, a rash. Unlike many viral illnesses, dengue generally does not cause respiratory symptoms.

Officials are encouraging residents to reduce their risk of infection by taking simple precautions, including:

• Using EPA-approved insect repellents.
• Wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants when outdoors, especially during daylight hours when Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are most active.
• Eliminating standing water around homes where mosquitoes can breed, including in flower pots, buckets, bird baths and old tires.
• Ensuring window and door screens are in good repair to keep mosquitoes out of homes.

The Florida Department of Health said it continues statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue. Residents are also encouraged to report dead birds to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, as they can help monitor the spread of certain mosquito-borne diseases.

The alerts come as South Florida continues to see elevated dengue activity. Despite ongoing mosquito-control efforts, the region recorded one of the nation's highest numbers of dengue cases in 2025.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida remains the highest-risk state in the continental United States for locally acquired dengue, with about 50 locally acquired cases reported through July 2026. Nationally, more than 500 dengue cases have been reported this year, following a record-setting 2024, when the CDC's ArboNET surveillance system recorded 3,798 confirmed cases.

Health officials said they will continue monitoring the situation and urged residents experiencing symptoms after mosquito exposure to seek medical attention promptly.