Dengue-carrying mosquitoes expand their reach into new territories – including Florida
The Aedis aegypti mosquito spreads dengue from person to person. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images The Tampa Bay Times reported the death of an elderly woman on Sept.
In September 2026, an elderly woman in Tampa Bay, Florida, died after local doctors attributed her death to dengue fever, though the Florida Department of Health has not confirmed it. This death occurred during a larger dengue outbreak in Hillsborough County, where 95 locally acquired cases were documented between July and September 2026. The Hillsborough County Health Department issued a mosquito-borne illness alert in August 2026 due to multiple locally spread cases. This marks a shift, as dengue is often associated with tropical travel but is now appearing in the U.S. locally. The disease, nicknamed 'breakbone fever,' causes severe symptoms like high fever, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, and rash, making it easy to mistake for the flu or COVID-19, especially in areas where dengue is uncommon.
Dengue spreads through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes, primarily the Aedes aegypti species, which is common in Florida. These mosquitoes thrive in warm urban areas and can breed in small amounts of standing water, such as a bottle cap. They bite during the day, not just at dusk, and the virus spreads when an infected mosquito bites a person. The cycle is difficult to break because the infected person may not show symptoms for 4 to 10 days. About 75% of infected people never develop symptoms, while 25% experience illness. There are four strains of dengue, and surviving one strain does not protect against the others. A second infection with a different strain increases the risk of severe disease.
Most dengue cases resolve within a week, but about 1 in 20 patients develop severe dengue, a life-threatening condition. Severe dengue often occurs around days 3 to 7 of illness, when patients and families may assume recovery is near. Symptoms include severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding from gums or nose, extreme drowsiness, and blood in vomit or stool. Risk groups include infants, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with conditions like diabetes, obesity, or kidney disease. Without treatment, severe dengue can kill up to 10% of patients, but with prompt hospital care, this drops to less than 1%. Recognizing warning signs early is critical for survival.
There is no antiviral drug to cure dengue. Treatment focuses on supporting the body while it fights the virus. For mild cases, rest, fluids, and acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) are recommended for fever and pain. Patients must avoid aspirin, ibuprofen, and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as these increase bleeding risk. Severe cases require hospitalization, where doctors provide carefully measured intravenous fluids and monitor the patient closely. Too little fluid can cause shock, while too much can flood the lungs. Prevention relies on avoiding mosquito bites, as no widespread vaccine is available for the average American.
Dengue cases are rising worldwide, with the World Health Organization (WHO) reporting over 14 million cases in 2024, its worst year on record, across about 100 countries. This represents a 2,600% increase from the 505,000 cases reported in 2000. Factors like warmer temperatures, rapid urban growth, and global travel are helping the mosquitoes and virus expand into new regions. While South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America bear the heaviest burden, the disease is spreading northward, including into the U.S. Most U.S. cases are still travel-related, but local transmission is increasing in warm states like Florida, Texas, California, Arizona, and Hawaii.
In the U.S., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands report the most dengue cases, but Florida has the highest risk among the 50 states. Miami-Dade County recorded over 300 locally acquired dengue infections between 2010 and 2024. Local cases have also been identified in Texas, California, Arizona, and Hawaii. While most U.S. cases are travel-related—with nearly 1,900 reported in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—every infected traveler poses a risk in warm states where mosquitoes are present. Prevention focuses on avoiding mosquito bites and eliminating standing water where they breed.
If you develop a sudden fever after traveling to a dengue-prone area or after mosquito exposure in South Florida, see a doctor and mention your travel or exposure history. Rest, drink plenty of fluids, and use acetaminophen for fever and pain. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen. Watch for warning signs of severe dengue, such as severe abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, bleeding, or sudden drowsiness, which require emergency care. To protect yourself and others, use insect repellent, wear long sleeves, and eliminate standing water in your yard where mosquitoes can breed. These steps help reduce the risk of dengue transmission in your community.
