The Florida Department of Health has confirmed a death resulting from dengue fever in Hillsborough County, marking one of the state’s worst outbreaks in decades. The fatality, which occurred on September 4, is described as the first in the Tampa Bay area in nearly a century. According to a death certificate obtained by the Tampa Bay Times, the victim was 80-year-old Gay Small, who died at Tampa General Hospital from a dengue infection along with multi-organ failure and septic shock.
Small’s family stated she had not left the city limits of Tampa in more than a month and did not drive, suggesting the infection was acquired locally. Her daughter, Anna Small, noted that her mother had been healthy and walked daily along Tampa’s Riverwalk and near her condo on Bayshore Boulevard. Small’s condition deteriorated rapidly, moving from fatigue to organ failure within seven days.
Local Outbreak and Case Numbers
The current surge is heavily concentrated in Hillsborough County, which typically records only a few cases. County spokesperson Chris Wilkerson described the current situation as wildly unusual.
As of September 18, 2026, the Florida Department of Health reported 153 locally acquired cases in the state, with 134 of those occurring in Hillsborough County. This represents a significant increase from 2025, when 62 people tested positive for locally acquired infections.
According to the CDC, overall dengue cases in Florida totaled 332 as of September 16. While the state’s highest recorded number of cases occurred in 2023 with nearly 200, this year’s total already ranks as the second highest. In the week prior to Small’s death, locally acquired infections in Hillsborough County doubled to 59, a figure more than 10 times the cases found in other Florida counties.
Environmental Drivers and Mosquito Control
Experts attribute the outbreak to recent weather conditions. Additionally, experts suggest that climate change is expanding the geographic reach of the warm-weather mosquitoes that spread the virus.
In response to the outbreak centered north of Tampa, Hillsborough County Mosquito Management Services has deployed workers to spray for mosquitoes day and night. Paolo Pecora, a senior environmental scientist for the agency, said workers have also been inspecting properties for standing water in areas such as tires where mosquitoes breed.
Understanding Dengue Fever
Dengue is an acute febrile illness caused by any of four related single-stranded RNA viruses (DENV1–4). While many infected individuals do not become ill, others experience fever, headache, and flu-like symptoms. Severe cases can lead to shock, serious bleeding, and death. According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 20 people who contract the virus develop hemorrhagic fever, which can involve blood in the stool or vomit, bleeding from the gums or nose, and abdominal pain.
Preventative Measures and Global Context
Florida Department of Health spokesperson Claire Maher has urged residents and visitors to take the following precautions to avoid mosquito-borne illnesses:
- Apply insect repellent appropriately.
- Drain any standing water.
- Wear long pants and shirts, particularly during sunrise and sunset when mosquitoes are most active.
- Avoid areas with high mosquito populations.
The situation in Florida mirrors a broader global trend. The World Health Organization has reported more than 2.2 million infections and nearly 1,200 deaths worldwide so far this year. In the United States, the CDC reports nearly 1,500 locally acquired cases, the majority of which are in Puerto Rico. Between 2010 and 2021, the U.S. reported 7,528 travel-related cases, with 19 deaths.
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