Florida mosquito-control agencies are increasing surveillance, inspections, and spraying as officials expect locally acquired dengue fever cases to rise in Tampa Bay and across the state in the coming weeks, according to Fox News. As of Sept. 1, locally acquired dengue fever cases in Florida had reached 33 in Tampa Bay and 41 statewide.
Florida Mosquito-Control Agencies Step Up Spraying and Surveillance
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral illness that can cause fever, severe aches, nausea, rash, and, in rare instances, life-threatening complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mosquito-control crews across Florida are stepping up aerial and ground treatments in areas exhibiting dengue virus activity while inspecting private properties for potential mosquito breeding sites.
Dengue does not stop at county lines,
Pinellas County Mosquito Control Director Alissa Berro told Fox 13, noting that while the mosquitoes transmitting the virus stay within a relatively small area, human travel can introduce infected individuals to new locations where local mosquitoes may bite them and spread the virus further.
National Trends and U.S. Case Statistics
The mosquito-borne dengue virus has been spreading across the United States, with health officials in Florida and Virginia each reporting local contract cases within a single week, according to The Independent. Federal health data shows total local and travel-related cases have reached 1,455, spanning states such as Texas, New York, California, Georgia, and Arizona.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that both local and traveler cases have been rising since the pandemic. A study published in May reported that 2024 was a record year for dengue in the U.S., with 3,798 cases recorded across U.S. states and the District of Columbia—representing a 359% increase over the annual average for 2010 through 2023. Approximately 97% of those cases were travel-associated, while roughly 3% were locally acquired.
Among U.S. states and Washington, D.C., Florida reported the highest number of dengue cases in 2024 with 1,044 cases, accounting for more than a quarter of the national total. That same year, Florida recorded 85 locally acquired cases across 10 counties, compared to 18 in California and two in Texas. Nationwide, just six deaths from dengue were reported in 2024.
Health Risks and Prevention Guidelines
Experts note that the broader spread of the virus has been fueled by warming temperatures linked to climate change. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, severe symptoms of dengue can include severe stomach pain, repeated vomiting, unusual bleeding or bruising, difficulty breathing, and extreme tiredness, restlessness, or irritability, requiring immediate medical care.
Health authorities and mosquito control organizations urge residents to take practical steps to eliminate breeding sites. Recommendations to reduce mosquito populations and prevent bites include:
- Emptying, covering, or removing standing water around homes
- Clearing items such as tires, buckets, bottles, and barrels that collect water
- Applying Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents containing DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol, or 2-undecanone
- Wearing clothing that covers exposed skin, such as long sleeves and pants
- Treating clothing and gear with permethrin
A vaccine named Dengvaxia is available, though it is recommended exclusively for children aged 9 to 16 with laboratory confirmation of a previous dengue infection, administered in three doses taken six months apart.
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