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Florida health officials have tallied more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, most of them in Hillsborough County near Tampa. The outbreak appears to be the largest in a U.S. state in decades and is nearing Hawaii’s 264 locally acquired cases reported during a six-month outbreak in 2015–2016. The reasons for the Tampa-area surge are not settled.
Florida health officials have reported more than 250 locally acquired dengue cases this year, with the vast majority in Hillsborough County, home to Tampa. Available state records and medical literature suggest it is the highest annual total reported by any state in the continental United States since at least the 1940s, and the count is nearing a 264-case Hawaii outbreak recorded in 2015–2016.
The current tally includes 252 locally acquired cases, compared with 245 travel-associated cases in Florida as of the week covered by the report. At least 13 Hillsborough County cases were diagnosed in travelers, according to the state. Health officials in Hillsborough and neighboring counties have declared local emergencies, while crews in the Tampa area are spraying for mosquitoes and inspecting 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 a mosquito-borne viral disease. Many infections cause no illness, but symptoms can include fever, flu-like illness and severe aches. In some cases, the disease can cause bleeding, shock and death. The outbreak count is already above Florida’s previous high of just under 200 locally acquired cases in 2023.
The comparison with past outbreaks is qualified. Federal officials say their dengue outbreak data are limited, and the historical picture is drawn from information available from state health departments and medical journals. The report says the Florida outbreak appears to be the largest in a continental U.S. state in decades; Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, regularly reports much higher totals than any state.
Tampa Nears Hawaii’s Outbreak Record
The case total signals a substantial rise in local transmission, rather than infections recorded only in people who acquired dengue while traveling. In the continental United States, locally acquired cases have historically been uncommon outside Florida and the Texas-Mexico border region. The Florida count is close to Hawaii’s 264 locally acquired cases over six months in 2015–2016, the largest state outbreak reported since the 2009–2010 dengue cases in Key West.
The outbreak also has practical consequences for people living in or visiting affected areas: local authorities are deploying mosquito-control crews, and residents are being urged to reduce exposure to bites and breeding sites. A single season’s total does not establish a lasting trend, but experts cited in the report say changing climate conditions and mosquito populations could make local outbreaks more frequent.
The wider burden is much larger outside the continental U.S. The World Health Organization has reported more than 2.2 million infections and nearly 1,200 deaths worldwide this year. The CDC has recorded nearly 1,900 locally acquired U.S. cases this year, most in Puerto Rico, according to the report.
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How Local Dengue Reached Tampa
Dengue is caused by one of four related virus types, numbered 1 through 4, and spread by certain mosquitoes. A first infection produces lasting antibodies against that type. A later infection with a different type can be more complicated: antibodies from the first infection may fail to neutralize the second and may help it enter immune cells, a factor that has made vaccine development difficult.
For decades, most dengue infections reported in the continental United States were linked to international travel, while Puerto Rico experienced recurring local transmission. Key West reported locally acquired cases in 2009–2010, the first such cases in the continental U.S. outside the Texas-Mexico border area since 1945, according to the report. Florida usually records the most locally acquired cases among states, often around Miami. This year’s concentration near Tampa is unusual; experts cited say travel patterns could be part of the explanation, but the cause is not established.
Dawn Wesson, a Tulane University expert on dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, said most people in the Tampa area likely lack prior immunity to any dengue type. The mosquito species that carry dengue are established in Florida and other warm parts of the United States. Experts say their geographic range has expanded as climate conditions change, though that alone does not explain the location or scale of this outbreak.
“There’s a good chance that this is the new normal.”
— Dawn Wesson, Tulane University dengue and mosquito-borne disease expert
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Why Hillsborough Cases Surged
The precise reasons for the concentration of cases around Tampa remain unclear. Wesson said travel patterns may have contributed, but the report does not establish that as the cause. Florida’s locally acquired and travel-associated case totals were close in the latest figures cited, and some Hillsborough cases were diagnosed in travelers.
The historical ranking also carries limits: federal officials say dengue outbreak data are limited, and the comparison relies on available state records and medical journals. The report describes Florida as appearing to have the largest state outbreak in the continental U.S. in decades, rather than presenting a complete, definitive national record. It is also not yet clear how much the case count will rise or whether the outbreak will spread beyond its current focus.
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Mosquito Control and Case Tracking
Local authorities are continuing mosquito spraying and property inspections for standing water. The report says the CDC has provided $800,000 in assistance to Florida’s health department, but state officials have not asked the agency to send disease investigators. Further public updates on cases, their locations and local response efforts will clarify whether transmission is slowing or continuing.
Residents in affected areas are advised to use EPA-registered repellents, including products with DEET, wear loose-fitting long sleeves and pants, use screened or air-conditioned spaces, and remove pooled water from their properties. Mosquitoes that carry dengue can bite during the day; the report says protection is especially relevant around sunrise and sunset, when mosquito activity often increases.
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Key Questions
How many locally acquired dengue cases has Florida reported?
The state had reported 252 locally acquired cases as of the week covered in the source report. Most were in Hillsborough County, near Tampa.
Is this the largest dengue outbreak in the continental United States?
Available state health department data and medical literature suggest it is the largest annual total for a continental U.S. state since at least the 1940s. Federal officials say the data are limited, so the historical comparison is not definitive.
What are dengue symptoms?
Many people infected with dengue do not become ill. Others may develop fever, flu-like symptoms and significant aches. Severe dengue can cause bleeding and shock and can be fatal.
Why are there so many cases near Tampa?
The cause has not been determined. An expert cited in the report said travel patterns may be one factor, but Florida’s case data do not establish why this year’s outbreak is concentrated in the Tampa area.
How can people reduce the risk of mosquito bites?
Health experts recommend EPA-registered repellents, protective clothing, screened or air-conditioned spaces, and removing standing water where mosquitoes can breed. Dengue-carrying mosquitoes can bite during the day, so protection should not be limited to nighttime.
Source: rss
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