Florida Counties Declare Emergency Amid Rising Dengue Fever Cases

<p>Three Florida counties, including Hillsborough, have declared local states of emergency as locally acquired cases of dengue fever continue to rise.</p><p>The Florida Department of Health has reported <a href="https://www.floridahealth.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/fl-arbovirus-report-w37-2026.pdf" rel="noopener" target="_blank">190 locally acquired cases</a> so far in 2026 across six counties, with 170 of those in Hillsborough. One person has died.</p><p>Chris Wilkerson, a spokesperson for Hillsborough County, stated to the Associated Press, “This is wildly unusual for us,” regarding the outbreak, as reported by <a href="https://abcnews.com/Health/wireStory/florida-confirms-death-dengue-state-struggles-worst-recent-136572973" rel="noopener" target="_blank">ABC News</a>.</p><p>Officials have indicated that weather conditions are likely contributing to the outbreak, as heavy rains have created standing water, which facilitates the breeding of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes that carry the virus. Residents have been advised to regularly check their homes and properties for standing water and to dispose of it to reduce mosquito reproduction.</p><p>Individuals diagnosed with the virus have been instructed to isolate themselves, as being bitten by a mosquito while infected can allow the mosquito to transmit the disease to others. Dengue fever is not transmitted directly from person to person but requires a mosquito vector for transmission.</p><p>The mosquito-borne virus, also known as “breakbone fever” due to the severe pain some patients experience in their bones and joints, is typically contracted in tropical regions. Most cases documented in the United States have historically been in patients who recently traveled abroad.</p><p>Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are prevalent in Florida and throughout the southern United States and can also transmit other diseases such as the Zika virus and Yellow fever. They are considered to pose a higher risk because they are active during the day, unlike many other mosquito species.</p><p>Recent testing of mosquitoes in the affected area has returned negative results for the virus, suggesting that female mosquitoes carrying the virus are not passing it to their offspring. This has led officials to express hope that the outbreak may resolve on its own. However, they caution that the overall threat is not likely to diminish.</p><p>Michael von Fricken, an associate professor of environmental and global health at the University of Florida, remarked, “I do think it’s going to be somewhat the new normal,” according to the Associated Press.</p><p>In addition to severe bone pain, dengue fever can cause sudden high fever, headaches, rash, and nausea. Patients are advised to seek immediate medical attention if they experience confusion, extreme fatigue, or restlessness.</p>